2 Samuel 17 11

2 Samuel 17:11 kjv

Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

2 Samuel 17:11 nkjv

Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.

2 Samuel 17:11 niv

"So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba?as numerous as the sand on the seashore?be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle.

2 Samuel 17:11 esv

But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.

2 Samuel 17:11 nlt

"I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 11 Meaning

This verse contains the counsel of Hushai the Archite to Absalom, advocating a strategy for crushing David's rebellion. Hushai advises that a massive, overwhelming force consisting of "all Israel" be mobilized from one end of the land to the other, making them as countless as the sand of the sea. Crucially, he also recommends that Absalom himself personally lead this enormous army into battle against David. This counsel, though seemingly wise to Absalom, was designed by God to thwart Ahithophel's counsel and grant David time to escape and regroup.

2 Samuel 17 11 Context

The events of 2 Samuel 17 take place during Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. David has been forced to flee Jerusalem, and Absalom has seized the throne. Absalom sought counsel from two key advisors: Ahithophel, whose wisdom was highly esteemed, and Hushai, whom David had specifically sent back to Jerusalem to "frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel" (2 Sam 15:34).

Ahithophel's initial counsel to Absalom was militarily sound: pursue David immediately with a swift, hand-picked force of 12,000 men while David was weary and unprepared. This would ensure David's quick capture and death, allowing Absalom to consolidate power without prolonged conflict or further loss of life among David's loyalists (2 Sam 17:1-3). However, God intervened to frustrate this counsel. Absalom, seeking a second opinion (against the custom for such clear and highly-regarded advice), consulted Hushai. It is Hushai's deceptive counsel that is given in 2 Samuel 17:11, presenting an alternative, but flawed, strategy that appealed to Absalom's vanity and desire for a grand show of force.

2 Samuel 17 11 Word analysis

• Therefore ('A-le-chen): Introduces the logical conclusion or recommendation following the previous discussion. It connects Hushai's advice to Ahithophel's, positioning it as an alternative perspective.
• I advise (Ye-a-tz-ti): From the Hebrew verb ya'ats (יָעַץ), meaning "to advise, counsel, plan, decide." This signifies giving a strategic recommendation. Hushai is presenting his well-considered military strategy.
• that all Israel (kol Yisra'el): From Hebrew kol (כֹּל) meaning "all, every," and Yisra'el (יִשְׂרָאֵל), referring to the entire nation. This phrase emphasizes a complete national mobilization, appealing to Absalom's ego to be recognized as king by all. This contrasts sharply with Ahithophel's proposal of a smaller, swift strike force.
• from Dan even to Beersheba (mi-Dan ad Be'er Sheva'): A common Hebrew idiomatic expression denoting the full territorial extent of Israel, from its northernmost city (Dan) to its southernmost (Beersheba). It signifies the entire populace of the kingdom, reinforcing the idea of a universal summons.
• be gathered to you (ye'asefu eileka): From the Hebrew verb 'asaf (אָסַף), meaning "to gather, collect, assemble." This points to the massive conscription and assembly of troops under Absalom's banner, implying a display of overwhelming strength and legitimacy.
• as the sand that is by the sea for multitude (ka-chol asher al ha-yam la-rov): This is a standard biblical simile (ka-chol, "like sand") for an innumerable quantity or an overwhelming multitude, frequently used in promises of numerous descendants (Gen 22:17, 32:12) or to describe vast armies (Josh 11:4). Hushai uses hyperbole to magnify the image of an unstoppable force, flattering Absalom with the idea of unrivaled power.
• and that you yourself go out to battle in person (we'at ba-panim telech la-krav): Hebrew ba-panim (בַּפָּנִים) literally means "in the face" or "in person." Hushai cunningly suggested Absalom lead, a move designed to delay Absalom's pursuit of David and appeal to his royal vanity, implying his presence would be indispensable for morale and leadership. This directly contradicted Ahithophel’s counsel for a seasoned warrior (Ahithophel himself) to lead, protecting the newly crowned king.

2 Samuel 17 11 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between Hushai’s advice and Ahithophel's highlights different philosophies of warfare: Ahithophel favored a surgical strike, while Hushai advocated for overwhelming force, knowing the latter would incur delay.
• Absalom's decision to favor Hushai's counsel over Ahithophel's was against standard practice, as Ahithophel's advice was highly regarded, "as if one consulted the word of God" (2 Sam 16:23). This deviation underscores divine orchestration.
• The psychological element of Hushai's counsel: It appealed to Absalom's desire for glory and self-importance ("you yourself go out to battle in person"), which was instrumental in his decision.
• This passage serves as a powerful biblical example of God using the seemingly "foolish" (Hushai's outwardly flawed advice) to frustrate the "wise" (Ahithophel's militarily sound counsel), a theme echoed in the New Testament (1 Cor 1:27).

2 Samuel 17 11 Commentary

Hushai's counsel in 2 Samuel 17:11, though appearing strategically robust by suggesting an overwhelming mobilization, was profoundly flawed in its practicality and timing. Its core purpose was not military effectiveness but rather divine intervention through human deception. By advocating for a massive, all-Israel mobilization, Hushai introduced a critical delay. Such a widespread gathering would take considerable time to organize and execute, time that David desperately needed to cross the Jordan, regroup, and prepare his defenses. Ahithophel's alternative plan of an immediate, rapid strike was militarily superior given David's vulnerable state.

The key theological truth embedded here is God's sovereign control over human plans. David had prayed that God would "frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel" (2 Sam 15:31). This verse is the direct answer to that prayer. God used Hushai, a loyal friend to David and seemingly a subordinate advisor to Absalom, to sow a deceptive seed of strategic wisdom that appealed to Absalom's pride and vanity. Absalom, convinced by the flattering grandeur of leading an innumerable army and being present for a decisive victory, chose Hushai’s delaying tactics over Ahithophel’s swift strike. This decision led to Ahithophel's suicide and, ultimately, to Absalom's downfall. It showcases God's ability to turn the wisdom of the world into foolishness and orchestrate events to achieve His divine purposes, even through seemingly minor shifts in human decisions.