2 Samuel 15 34

2 Samuel 15:34 kjv

But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 15:34 nkjv

But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father's servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,' then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

2 Samuel 15:34 niv

But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father's servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,' then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel's advice.

2 Samuel 15:34 esv

But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 15:34 nlt

Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, 'I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father's adviser in the past.' Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel's advice.

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 34 Meaning

This verse details King David's strategic command to Hushai the Archite, his loyal counselor. Facing the rebellion led by his son Absalom, David instructs Hushai to feign allegiance to Absalom. The purpose is for Hushai to infiltrate Absalom's counsel and counter the advice of Ahithophel, who was renowned for his astute, albeit now treacherous, counsel. By appearing to abandon David and declare himself Absalom's servant, Hushai is to act as a crucial double agent, effectively becoming David's secret weapon within the enemy's camp to frustrate Absalom's plans.

2 Samuel 15 34 Context

2 Samuel chapter 15 records the unfolding of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. Absalom, after years of subtly gaining popularity, orchestrates a coup in Hebron. David, upon learning of the widespread defection, decides to flee Jerusalem to avoid direct conflict and preserve the city. As David leaves, many loyal followers accompany him. However, when his faithful counselor, Hushai the Archite, comes to join him, David discerns a divine strategy. Ahithophel, David's formerly trusted adviser, has defected to Absalom, and his counsel is like consulting the very word of God (2 Sam 16:23). David recognizes the extreme danger posed by Ahithophel's shrewdness and prays that the Lord would turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness (2 Sam 15:31). Verse 34 then follows, detailing David's direct, pragmatic instruction to Hushai to act as a deep-cover agent within Absalom's camp to frustrate Ahithophel's destructive advice, demonstrating David's strategic thinking coupled with his reliance on God's intervention.

2 Samuel 15 34 Word analysis

• "And": (וְ, ve) A conjunction, linking this instruction directly to David's prayer and flight, emphasizing its immediate relevance in the unfolding crisis. It connects a strategic command to the preceding divine plea.
• "if": (אִם, 'im) Introduces a conditional clause, implying Hushai's willingness to undertake this perilous mission, despite the inherent risks of deception. It grants Hushai a choice, yet also subtly places the weight of its necessity upon him.
• "thou": (אַתָּה, 'attah) Refers to Hushai the Archite, highlighting the personal and direct nature of David's command to his trusted friend. It points to Hushai as the central actor in this crucial stratagem.
• "return": (שַׁבְתָּ, shavta) From שׁוּב (shuv), meaning 'to turn back', 'to return'. Here, it means to go back to Jerusalem, to Absalom, suggesting a reversal of course and appearing to abandon David. This act of "returning" is itself the initial deceptive move.
• "to the city": Refers to Jerusalem, where Absalom has established his new seat of power, highlighting the physical location of the infiltration.
• "and say": (וְאָמַרְתָּ, ve'amarta) From אָמַר (amar), 'to say', 'to speak'. This is the specific instruction to use words—deceptive words—as the primary tool for infiltration. The command emphasizes articulate communication as crucial to the plan.
• "unto Absalom": The direct recipient of Hushai's feigned loyalty. This clearly identifies the target of the deception.
• "I will be thy servant, O king": Hushai's proposed statement, echoing traditional declarations of fealty. "Thy servant" (עַבְדֶּךָ, 'avdekha) signifies humble submission and loyal service. "O king" (הַמֶּלֶךְ, hammelekh) formally acknowledges Absalom's usurped royal title, providing an outward sign of allegiance. This is a masterful stroke of deception, playing directly into Absalom's ego and need for legitimacy.
• "as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I be thine": (כִּי־הָיִיתִי עֶבֶד אָבִיךָ הָלְאָה וְעַתָּה וְגַם־אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ, ki-hayiti 'eved 'aviykha hal'ah ve'attah vegam-'ani 'avdekha) This phrase solidifies the feigned allegiance by drawing a direct, albeit false, parallel between past loyalty to David and future loyalty to Absalom. The deception lies in extending a true historical allegiance into a false current one. The term "hitherto" (hal'ah) underscores the perceived shift in allegiance. This statement is specifically crafted to appear credible, exploiting Absalom's desire for the affirmation of seasoned royal officials.
• "then shalt thou": A direct consequence promised if Hushai performs the commanded actions.
• "frustrate": (הֵפַרְתָּ, hefarta) From פָּרַר (parar), meaning 'to break', 'to frustrate', 'to annul'. This is the ultimate goal of Hushai's mission: to actively undermine and render useless Ahithophel's counsel. It emphasizes an active, not passive, role.
• "the counsel": (עֲצַת, 'atzat) From עֵצָה ('etzah), meaning 'counsel', 'advice', 'plan'. This refers specifically to the strategic guidance provided by Ahithophel. The word "counsel" signifies a well-thought-out plan, implying that frustrating it requires strategic counter-counsel.
• "of Ahithophel": The specific target of the frustration. Ahithophel's reputation as a wise counselor makes this a particularly formidable task, reinforcing David's deep concern over his defection.

2 Samuel 15 34 Bonus section

The strategy of sending Hushai into Absalom's camp highlights a significant ethical discussion within biblical studies: when is deception permissible or even divinely sanctioned? In this context, Hushai's actions are presented as part of God's direct answer to David's prayer and a means of preserving God's chosen king and the Davidic line. This is distinct from malicious deception or lying for selfish gain. It functions as a counter-intelligence operation within a conflict, echoing instances where God's people have employed strategic feints or misdirection against enemies (e.g., Rahab's hiding of the spies, Joshua's strategy at Ai). It shows God working through situations, even those involving complex human actions, to achieve His righteous ends. The phrase "turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" implies divine intervention that might involve not just a supernatural turning, but also a human agent fulfilling that turning.

2 Samuel 15 34 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:34 is a pivotal verse, revealing David's blend of desperate resourcefulness and unwavering faith in God's providence amidst crisis. Faced with his most cunning advisor, Ahithophel, siding with Absalom, David acknowledges the mortal danger. His strategic instruction to Hushai to act as a loyal servant to Absalom is a calculated move of counter-intelligence. This isn't just human trickery; it follows David's fervent prayer for God to "turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" (2 Sam 15:31). Therefore, Hushai's deception becomes God's answer to David's prayer. God uses human means—even what appears to be morally questionable on the surface (like deceit)—to achieve His divine purposes, specifically protecting David's kingship which was integral to the messianic lineage. The very specific language David provides Hushai ("as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I be thine") demonstrates an astute understanding of how to deceive the psychologically vulnerable Absalom, who sought validation from those connected to his father's reign. The outcome in 2 Samuel 17 proves this divine orchestration, as Hushai's deliberately bad counsel is accepted, leading to Ahithophel's suicide and the ultimate defeat of Absalom's rebellion. This verse illustrates that God is sovereign even over the most complex political maneuvers and uses unexpected agents and strategies to accomplish His will, often working through prayer and the wisdom (divinely-inspired or strategically prudent) of His faithful servants.