2 Samuel 17 7

2 Samuel 17:7 kjv

And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

2 Samuel 17:7 nkjv

So Hushai said to Absalom: "The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.

2 Samuel 17:7 niv

Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.

2 Samuel 17:7 esv

Then Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good."

2 Samuel 17:7 nlt

"Well," Hushai replied to Absalom, "this time Ahithophel has made a mistake.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 7 Meaning

2 Samuel 17:7 records the pivotal statement by Hushai, King David's loyal intelligence agent, to Absalom during his rebellion. Hushai asserts that the specific counsel given by Ahithophel, Absalom's chief advisor, is "not good at this time." This declaration marked the beginning of Hushai's counter-strategy, designed to undermine Ahithophel's swift and effective plan, thereby giving David time to escape and regroup, as purposed by the Lord.

2 Samuel 17 7 Context

Following Absalom's successful coup and David's flight from Jerusalem (2 Sam 15-16), Absalom sought counsel from Ahithophel, whose advice was famously revered. Ahithophel's first piece of counsel to Absalom was morally reprehensible but strategically brilliant: for Absalom to publicly lie with David's concubines (2 Sam 16:20-22), solidifying the break with David. His second counsel (2 Sam 17:1-3) was for a swift, immediate pursuit of David by 12,000 men while David was weary and unprepared, guaranteeing an easy victory and avoiding prolonged conflict. This was militarily sound and likely to succeed. However, David, aware of Ahithophel's brilliance, had sent his loyal friend Hushai back to Jerusalem with a mission: to "defeat the counsel of Ahithophel" (2 Sam 15:31, 34). Hushai, masquerading as a loyal advisor to Absalom, waits for his moment to intervene. This verse marks that precise moment, as Hushai openly contradicts Ahithophel's trusted wisdom before Absalom, laying the groundwork for his counter-proposal. The divine context is crucial: God Himself "purposed to defeat" Ahithophel's counsel to bring disaster upon Absalom (2 Sam 17:14), using Hushai as His instrument.

2 Samuel 17 7 Word analysis

• Then Hushai: Marks a decisive turning point in the narrative. Hushai, previously silent since his return, now begins his critical role.
• said to Absalom: Indicates a direct confrontation and address to the leader. The immediate audience's approval is critical for Hushai's plan to work.
• The counsel: Hebrew: etsah (עֵצָה). This term denotes advice, deliberation, a strategic plan, or counsel. It emphasizes the weight and authority associated with the proposed course of action in leadership and warfare in ancient Israel.
• of Ahithophel: Directly identifies the source of the counsel, invoking its known reputation for sagacity and trustworthiness, often equated to "consulting the oracle of God" (2 Sam 16:23). Hushai acknowledges its formidable reputation.
• is not good: Hebrew: lo tov (לֹא טוֹב). This is a strong and direct negation, asserting its inferiority. From a human military standpoint, Ahithophel's counsel was effective. However, Hushai's statement reflects a higher "good" (טֹב, tov), serving God's ultimate purpose for David and divine justice for Absalom's rebellion. It's a strategic lie intended to serve a righteous outcome by divine will, challenging accepted human wisdom. It sets up the antithesis between Ahithophel's practical, but ultimately divinely-thwarted, wisdom and Hushai's divinely-inspired deception.
• at this time: Hebrew: bappaa'am hazzot (בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת). This crucial temporal qualifier is key to Hushai's cunning strategy. It subtly avoids a complete dismissal of Ahithophel's renowned wisdom, suggesting only its inapplicability presently. This phrasing respects Ahithophel's overall reputation while subtly introducing doubt about the immediate relevance of his specific advice, creating an opening for Hushai's own counsel, which he will frame as superior for the current circumstances and Absalom's ultimate ambition. It preys on Absalom's vanity and desire for a more glorious, albeit delayed, victory.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Hushai said to Absalom": This establishes Hushai as an active, vocal agent directly addressing the rebellion's leader, placing him firmly in his intended role to manipulate events.
• "The counsel of Ahithophel": Sets the stage by naming the immediate challenge: to discredit the trusted, revered advice from a man known for infallible wisdom. It underscores the monumental task Hushai undertakes.
• "is not good at this time": This specific phrasing is a masterful stroke. It is both direct and nuanced. Direct because it outright negates Ahithophel's advice; nuanced because "at this time" frames it as a situational deficiency rather than an absolute flaw. This rhetorical precision is designed to make Absalom receptive to a counter-argument that seems to align more closely with his desires and the perceived grandiosity of his reign, rather than merely dismissing sound advice.

2 Samuel 17 7 Bonus section

• The reputation of Ahithophel's counsel was so formidable that its rejection directly led to his suicide (2 Sam 17:23), highlighting his deep conviction in his own wisdom and his profound shame when it was disregarded. This demonstrates the high stakes and the almost divine reverence placed upon his advice.
• Hushai's specific wording, particularly "at this time," demonstrates a masterful understanding of Absalom's character, leveraging his desire for glory and his insecurity regarding his royal position. Instead of directly confronting the military wisdom, Hushai suggests an even "better" path to consolidate Absalom's image and power, playing to Absalom's ego.
• The narrative serves as a stark example of a common biblical theme: God frustrating the plans of the wicked through unexpected means (e.g., Pharaoh, Goliath, Haman). Here, the unexpected means is a loyal friend using cunning, which, while ethically complex from a general moral perspective, is presented as being specifically divinely purposed to preserve David and the Davidic covenant line.

2 Samuel 17 7 Commentary

2 Samuel 17:7 marks the point of direct divine intervention, disguised in human strategy. Ahithophel's counsel was shrewd and efficient, tailored for swift, decisive victory over David. Had it been executed, Absalom's rebellion would have likely succeeded quickly. However, Hushai, functioning as God's instrument, articulates a concise but devastating blow to this plan. His declaration, "The counsel of Ahithophel is not good at this time," cleverly subverts Ahithophel's wisdom not by refuting its strategic merits directly, but by claiming it lacks immediate relevance or sufficiency. Hushai knew Absalom was proud and susceptible to grander, more glorious ideas.

This statement is foundational to God's plan to protect His anointed King David. Hushai's counter-argument, detailed subsequently in the chapter, delays Absalom's pursuit, giving David invaluable time to cross the Jordan and muster his forces, directly leading to Absalom's defeat. The text clearly attributes this successful subversion to God's purpose, stating, "For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster upon Absalom" (2 Sam 17:14). Thus, Hushai's seemingly simple denial is a divine act, showcasing God's sovereignty over human wisdom, even that considered highly astute. It reminds us that no human counsel, however wise, can stand against the predetermined will of the Almighty. This narrative serves as a powerful testament to divine providence: even through human agents engaging in strategic deception, God accomplishes His will for His kingdom and His people.