2 Samuel 17:4 kjv
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
2 Samuel 17:4 nkjv
And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
2 Samuel 17:4 niv
This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
2 Samuel 17:4 esv
And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
2 Samuel 17:4 nlt
This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
2 Samuel 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. | God's ultimate sovereignty over human plans. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations... The counsel of the LORD stands forever. | God frustrates human plans, establishes His. |
| Prov 21:30 | There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the LORD. | Human counsel cannot stand against God's will. |
| Job 5:12-13 | He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise... He takes the wise in their own craftiness. | God foils schemes of the cunning. |
| Isa 44:25 | who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish. | God makes human wisdom seem foolish. |
| Ps 14:4 | Have all the evildoers no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? | The folly of those opposing God/His people. |
| 2 Sam 15:12 | the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom kept increasing. | Growing support for Absalom's rebellion. |
| 2 Sam 16:23 | Now in those days the counsel of Ahithophel which he gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God. | Ahithophel's reputation for wisdom. |
| 2 Sam 17:1-3 | Ahithophel's original counsel to attack David directly and swiftly. | The specific wise counsel approved here. |
| 2 Sam 17:7 | Hushai counters Ahithophel's counsel, by portraying it as flawed. | The turning point where counter-counsel begins. |
| 2 Sam 17:14 | For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel... | Explicit divine intervention to foil the plan. |
| 2 Sam 17:23 | When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed... he hanged himself. | Consequence of his counsel being rejected. |
| Ps 3:1 | O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me. | David's plight amidst numerous enemies. |
| Ps 3:7 | Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek... | David's reliance on God for salvation. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Importance of seeking wise counsel. |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | Reinforces value of many counselors. |
| Prov 24:6 | For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. | Wise counsel crucial for victory. |
| Deut 17:9-10 | Refers to priests/judges deciding difficult cases by divine counsel. | Elders/priests having a role in decisions. |
| Zech 8:16 | Speak the truth to one another... execute true judgment. | Counselors meant to advise justly/truthfully. |
| Jer 19:7 | And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place... | God declaring He will nullify counsel. |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | Worldly wisdom can be made foolish by God. |
| Acts 4:27-28 | For truly in this city there were gathered together... to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. | God's sovereign plan over human actions. |
2 Samuel 17 verses
2 Samuel 17 4 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and unanimous acceptance of Ahithophel's counsel by Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Ahithophel's advice was to pursue King David immediately with a large, swift force to strike him down, thus ending the rebellion quickly and bringing all the people back to Absalom without further conflict. The counsel was seen as "right" or "good" in their eyes, indicating a consensus among the leaders of the rebellion, which, from a human perspective, seemed to guarantee its success.
2 Samuel 17 4 Context
This verse is set during Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. David has fled Jerusalem, and Absalom has taken control of the capital, seeking to solidify his new kingship. To accomplish this, he needed to neutralize David. Ahithophel, formerly David's trusted advisor but now a turncoat, was known for his astute and sagacious counsel, almost prophetic in its accuracy (2 Sam 16:23).
Immediately prior to this verse, Ahithophel had presented a highly aggressive and militarily sound plan: to immediately take twelve thousand chosen men and pursue David that very night. His rationale was to strike David while he was weary and vulnerable, spreading terror and causing his followers to flee, leaving only David to be killed. This direct action aimed to quickly end the war without significant bloodshed among the people, allowing Absalom to assume the throne without widespread civil war.
The acceptance of this "good" counsel by Absalom and all the elders indicates the strength of the rebellion's leadership, the perceived wisdom of Ahithophel, and the dire peril David faced. This collective endorsement sets the stage for the dramatic intervention of Hushai, David's loyal spy, whose divinely inspired counter-counsel ultimately saves David's life.
2 Samuel 17 4 Word analysis
- And the saying: The Hebrew word is דָּבָר (davar), which means not merely a "word" but a "matter," "thing," or "counsel." In this context, it refers to the entire, well-thought-out plan presented by Ahithophel. This davar carried the weight of Ahithophel's reputation for divine-like wisdom.
- pleased: The Hebrew word is וַיִּשַׁר (vayyishar), derived from the root יָשַׁר (yashar), meaning "to be straight," "to be right," "to be upright," or "to be good in one's eyes." Here, it signifies that Ahithophel's counsel was considered excellent, wise, and correct from their human perspective. It met with their full approval and agreement.
- Absalom well: This indicates Absalom's personal satisfaction and approval of Ahithophel's counsel. It aligns with his immediate desire for power and swift elimination of David, reinforcing his own judgment and eagerness for the plan. His approval was crucial as the new leader.
- and all the elders of Israel:
- "all": Emphasizes unanimity. This was not a divided opinion but a complete consensus, giving the counsel widespread political and national legitimacy within the rebellious faction. It indicates that the leadership class of Israel, not just Absalom, bought into the plan.
- "the elders of Israel": These were respected leaders, judges, and heads of clans or tribes, representing the collective wisdom and authority of the nation. Their agreement signified national endorsement of Absalom's cause and Ahithophel's strategy, demonstrating the serious political shift away from David. Their presence and agreement added significant weight and validation to the decision. From a human standpoint, such widespread acceptance by authoritative figures made the plan seem foolproof and divinely blessed.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the saying pleased Absalom well": This phrase highlights the personal conviction of the rebellion's leader in the proposed strategy. Absalom found it desirable and effective for his ends.
- "and all the elders of Israel": This signifies that the counsel did not merely get the leader's approval but also secured a crucial widespread consensus from the representative leaders of the people. This collective endorsement added significant authority and a veneer of national legitimacy to the rebellious plan. It implies a formidable challenge to David's sovereignty, as the "nation" seemingly stood behind Absalom.
2 Samuel 17 4 Bonus section
The widespread acceptance of Ahithophel's counsel was a powerful testament to his extraordinary wisdom and the precariousness of David's position. Ahithophel's advice was not just accepted but "pleased" them, suggesting not merely a pragmatic agreement but a genuine sense that this was the best course of action. This unanimity by "all the elders" demonstrated a profound shift of loyalty from David to Absalom across Israel, signalling a formidable force of opposition. This moment truly highlights that from all human indications, David's downfall was imminent. However, it also implicitly sets the stage for a theological truth: even the wisest human plans, if they go against God's sovereign will, are destined to be frustrated. The drama of this verse is intensified by the fact that the very next actions will reveal the limitations of human consensus and wisdom when arrayed against divine purpose.
2 Samuel 17 4 Commentary
2 Samuel 17:4 serves as a pivotal moment, depicting a near-perfect human alignment on a strategy that, had it been executed, would have undoubtedly led to King David's capture or death. Ahithophel's counsel was recognized for its strategic brilliance, and its unanimous acceptance by both Absalom, the new political figurehead, and "all the elders of Israel," representing the political and spiritual leadership, indicates its compelling logic from a human perspective. This consensus underscores the grave danger David was in and magnifies the divine intervention that subsequently overturned this widely acclaimed plan. The verse highlights the depth of human wisdom and unity, which, despite its apparent flawlessness, stood in opposition to God's ultimate purpose for David and his kingdom. It foreshadows the great tension between human counsel and divine will, preparing the reader for the extraordinary twist of fate orchestrated by the Lord. The apparent wisdom of this moment stands in stark contrast to God's subsequent overturning of it, showcasing that human consensus, however strong or wise, cannot prevail against God's sovereign plan (Prov 19:21).