2 Samuel 15 37

2 Samuel 15:37 kjv

So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 15:37 nkjv

So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 15:37 niv

So Hushai, David's confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

2 Samuel 15:37 esv

So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 15:37 nlt

So David's friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

2 Samuel 15 verses

2 Samuel 15 37 Meaning

This verse details the synchronized arrival of Hushai, David's loyal friend and strategic agent, into Jerusalem at the very moment Absalom assumes control. It marks a critical juncture in David's counter-strategy against his son's rebellion, fulfilling David's earlier directive and setting the stage for Hushai's vital deception aimed at undermining Absalom's shrewd advisor, Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 15 37 Context

Chapter 15 of 2 Samuel vividly details the acceleration of Absalom's rebellion. Through cunning and charisma, Absalom had gradually stolen the hearts of the people, culminating in his declaration of kingship in Hebron (vv. 1-12). Faced with overwhelming popular support for his rebellious son, David chose a hasty retreat from Jerusalem (vv. 13-23) to avoid bloodshed within the city. As he departed in distress, David strategically implemented a crucial counter-plan: he sent Hushai, his trusted friend and advisor, back into Jerusalem. Hushai's mission (vv. 32-36) was to feign loyalty to Absalom and, most critically, to "frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel," Absalom's highly shrewd and influential advisor, who was previously a close confidant of David. Verse 37 immediately follows David's directive to Hushai, indicating Hushai's swift obedience and successful infiltration of the capital. Simultaneously, Absalom, having gained momentum, also enters Jerusalem to establish his usurped reign, unaware of the faithful spy in his midst. This synchronized entry sets the stage for a critical battle of wits, underpinned by David's faith and reliance on divine intervention.

2 Samuel 15 37 Word analysis

• So Hushai (וַיָּבֹא חוּשַׁי - va'yavo Khushay): The Hebrew conjunction "waw" (וַ - "so/and") signifies an immediate sequential action, emphasizing Hushai's prompt obedience and swiftness in executing David's urgent plan. "Hushai" (חֻשַׁי - Khushay) means "hasty" or "spotted." His actions here are certainly "hasty" in their execution of David's counter-strategy.
• David’s friend (רֵעַ דָּוִד - rea' Dawid): This title signifies a deep, intimate, and trusted associate. Rea' denotes a companionship and loyalty beyond a mere acquaintance. In a royal context, this often points to a designated role as "the king's confidant" or chief counselor (e.g., 1 Ki 4:5; 1 Chr 27:33), granting him privileged access and trust essential for his secret mission.
• came into the city (בָּא הָעִירָה - ba ha'irah): Refers to Jerusalem, which David had just evacuated (2 Sam 15:14). Hushai's entry into the capital now under Absalom's control demonstrates significant courage and commitment, as he is entering a potentially hostile and dangerous environment.
• and Absalom (וְאַבְשָׁלֹום - ve'Avshalom): The "waw" conjunction (וְ - "and") parallel to Hushai's entry emphasizes the striking simultaneity of their arrivals. "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁלֹום - Avshalom) ironically means "my father is peace," a poignant contrast to his rebellious actions that brought discord and warfare.
• came into Jerusalem (בָּא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - ba Yerushalaim): Absalom's entry into the capital signals the full extent of his usurpation and the temporary success of his rebellion. Jerusalem is the nexus of power and the symbolic heart of the kingdom; taking it signifies the seizure of authority. The repeated verb "came" further highlights the coordinated timing.

• "So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city": This phrase immediately grounds Hushai's unusual actions in his unwavering loyalty to David. It foreshadows that his presence within Absalom's camp is part of a deeper, true allegiance. The strategic significance of David's trusted "friend" operating behind enemy lines is instantly clear to the reader.
• "came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem": This concisely structured parallel emphasizes the dramatic synchronicity and tension of the moment. Two opposing forces, one working for usurpation and the other for preservation (via cunning), converge on the same vital location—Jerusalem—at precisely the same time. This literary device highlights the unfolding drama and David's successful initiation of his counter-plan. The double emphasis on "Jerusalem" underscores its central importance as the seat of royal authority, now contested.

2 Samuel 15 37 Bonus section

• The concurrent entry of Hushai and Absalom underscores the centrality of Jerusalem, not merely as a geographic location, but as the symbolic and actual seat of kingship and the Lord's chosen city. The battle for control over Jerusalem is synonymous with the contest for legitimate authority in Israel.
• Hushai's return signifies David's reliance on both strategic foresight and faithful human agents, yet all of this is ultimately underpinned by his profound dependence on God's intervention, as evidenced by his earnest prayer in 2 Sam 15:31.
• This immediate obedience of Hushai contrasts sharply with the varying responses of others: some fled with David (like the Cherethites and Pelethites), others defected (like Ahithophel), and some joined Absalom. Hushai willingly takes on an exceedingly dangerous and morally complex assignment for David's sake, highlighting his exceptional commitment.
• The specific term "friend" (rea') applied to Hushai in a royal context suggests more than a casual relationship. It points to a trusted circle with intimate access to the king, possibly denoting an official royal counselor position, which was vital for Hushai's clandestine mission and the believability of his feigned loyalty to Absalom.

2 Samuel 15 37 Commentary

2 Samuel 15:37 serves as a concise yet highly dramatic turning point in the narrative of Absalom's rebellion, immediately following David's strategic instructions to Hushai. It powerfully demonstrates the immediate implementation of David's prayer-backed, strategic counter-plan. The verse highlights Hushai's exceptional loyalty and quick obedience, embodying the very definition of a "friend in need," willing to face immense personal risk for David. The stark parallel of Hushai and Absalom entering Jerusalem simultaneously underscores the intense tension: one returns under disguise to serve David's purpose through an arduous deception, while the other enters in triumphal usurpation to consolidate his ill-gotten power. This divinely orchestrated timing is pivotal, setting the immediate stage for Hushai to become God's direct instrument in nullifying Ahithophel's cunning, destructive counsel, thus directly answering David's earlier prayer for divine intervention. It subtly reinforces the profound biblical theme that God's sovereign purposes often unfold through faithful human agents and well-laid strategies, rather than always through overt miracles, all for His glory.