2 Samuel 17 9

2 Samuel 17:9 kjv

Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

2 Samuel 17:9 nkjv

Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, 'There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'

2 Samuel 17:9 niv

Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.'

2 Samuel 17:9 esv

Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'

2 Samuel 17:9 nlt

He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom's men are being slaughtered.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 9 Meaning

Second Samuel 17:9 describes Ahithophel's astute prediction of David's strategic hiding and anticipated a sudden, devastating counter-attack. He foresees that David, skilled in warfare and currently concealed in a hidden location, will strike Absalom's vanguard. This initial blow, leading to casualties, would quickly spread demoralizing news among Absalom's followers, potentially causing panic, defection, and widespread disarray, thus undermining the entire campaign. Ahithophel accurately understood David's military cunning and the psychological impact of such a setback.

2 Samuel 17 9 Context

This verse is part of the pivotal dialogue in 2 Samuel 17 between Ahithophel and Hushai regarding the pursuit of King David. Absalom had usurped the throne and David had fled Jerusalem. Ahithophel, David's former chief counselor who had defected to Absalom, offers counsel to immediately pursue David with a small, swift force, capitalizing on David's exhaustion and the demoralization of his followers. His counsel is militarily sound and dangerous for David. This particular verse (17:9) serves as part of Ahithophel's argument, demonstrating his deep understanding of David's cunning and potential counter-strategies. He warns Absalom that David will not just be passive but will be strategically hidden and ready to ambush, and that any initial success by David's forces would be devastating for Absalom's army. Hushai, a loyalist to David sent by David as a double agent, then counters Ahithophel's advice with an elaborate, more appealing (but ultimately flawed) strategy designed to delay Absalom's attack and give David time to regroup, a strategy that ultimately prevails due to God's intervention.

2 Samuel 17 9 Word analysis

• Behold (Heb. הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An emphatic interjection meaning "look!", "see!", or "indeed!". It draws immediate attention to a crucial point, highlighting the certainty and importance of Ahithophel's assessment. It indicates a clear and present observation about David's state.
• he is hidden (Heb. נֶחְבָּא, neḥbā): From the verb חָבָא (ḥāḇā), meaning "to hide oneself, be concealed." The Niphal participle implies a state of being deliberately hidden, active and ongoing. It conveys David's tactical and cautious approach rather than mere cowardly flight; he is strategically concealed.
• now (Heb. עַתָּה, ʿattāh): Emphasizes the immediate, current reality of David's hidden state, reinforcing the urgency of Ahithophel's counsel.
• in some pit (Heb. בְּאַחַת הַפַּחֲדוֹת, bĕʾaḥat happaḥadôth): The singular paḥad (פַּחַד) refers to "a terror, dread," but the plural paḥadot here means "hiding places" or "holes," likely referring to rocky crevices, caves, or depressions commonly found in the wilderness. It suggests familiar places where people hide for refuge.
• or in some other place (Heb. אוֹ בְּאֶחָד הַמְּקֹמוֹת, ô bĕʾeḥād hammĕqōmôt): "אוֹ" (ʾô) means "or"; "בְּאֶחָד" (bĕʾeḥād) means "in one of"; "הַמְּקֹמוֹת" (hamməqōmôt) from māqôm (מָקוֹם), meaning "place" or "site." This phrase expands the possibilities beyond just pits, indicating any other concealed location David might choose, showing Ahithophel's recognition of David's adaptability and resourcefulness in evading capture.
• And when some of them are overthrown (Heb. וּבִנְפֹל בָּהֶם מִקָּדִישׁ, ūvinpōl bāhem miqqāḏîš): "וּבִנְפֹל" (ūvinpōl) means "and in the falling," referring to a swift, sudden fall or defeat. "בָּהֶם" (bāhem) means "among them" (Absalom's troops). "מִקָּדִישׁ" (miqqāḏîš) can mean "at the first," or "at the initial stroke/blow," indicating an initial, sudden, and significant defeat. Ahithophel anticipates an immediate tactical loss by Absalom's advance guard.
• at the first attack: An interpretive addition, capturing the sense of "מִקָּדִישׁ" as a rapid initial assault leading to collapse.
• whoever hears it will say (Heb. וְהָיָה כְּשְׁמֹעַ כָּל־שֹׁמֵעַ וְאָמַר, vĕhāyāh kĕšĕmōaʿ kol-šōmēaʿ vĕʾāmar): This emphasizes the psychological and viral spread of information. "כְּשְׁמֹעַ" (kĕšĕmōaʿ) is "when hears," "כָּל־שֹׁמֵעַ" (kol-šōmēaʿ) is "everyone who hears." The repetition stresses that the news will travel swiftly and widely.
• 'There has been a slaughter' (Heb. נֶגֶף גְּדוֹלָה, negep gĕdôlāh): "נֶגֶף" (negep) refers to "a plague, defeat, slaughter, blow." This word often carries connotations of a devastating blow or divinely sent plague. "גְּדוֹלָה" (gĕdôlāh) means "great, severe." The phrase denotes a crushing, significant defeat, designed to instill panic and demoralization.
• among the people who follow Absalom (Heb. בָּעָם הַהֹלֵךְ אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלֹם, bāʿām hahōlēk ʾaḥărê ʾavšālôm): This specifically names the target of the perceived disaster – Absalom's newly formed army, highlighting their potential vulnerability and lack of established loyalty or battle hardened resolve compared to David's veteran forces.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Behold, he is hidden now in some pit or in some other place.": This opening sets the scene for Ahithophel's analysis of David's strategic advantage. It paints a picture of David as a wily, seasoned warrior who understands the terrain and tactical concealment, rather than just a fleeing fugitive. This is not fear, but strategic cunning.
• "And when some of them are overthrown at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'": This is the core of Ahithophel's strategic foresight regarding psychological warfare. He accurately predicts that even a minor initial setback for Absalom's new, less experienced forces, if framed as a "slaughter" or great defeat, would ripple through the ranks, creating widespread fear and undermining their morale and loyalty, effectively causing the collapse of Absalom's army before a decisive battle even occurs.

2 Samuel 17 9 Bonus section

• The prophetic nature of Ahithophel's statement, albeit unintended by him. While it didn't play out precisely as a crushing initial blow against Absalom due to Hushai's intervention, the spirit of his counsel—that David was dangerous even in retreat—proved true, as David indeed rallied forces and decisively defeated Absalom's army later.
• Ahithophel's assessment here implicitly acknowledges David's superior military experience and cunning, which stands in contrast to Absalom's inexperienced leadership.
• The psychological dimension of ancient warfare is profoundly evident here. Battles were not just about physical strength but also about morale, reputation, and fear. Ahithophel understood that public perception and swift communication could win or lose a war as much as tactical prowess.
• The passage sets the stage for a grand narrative theme of divine intervention: God turns what was sound human wisdom (Ahithophel's) into folly by causing Absalom to accept a destructive counsel (Hushai's). This reinforces the principle found in Proverbs 19:21 and Isaiah 44:25, that God's purpose will stand above all human plans.

2 Samuel 17 9 Commentary

Second Samuel 17:9 stands as a testament to Ahithophel's sharp military insight and his deep understanding of David's character as a cunning warrior. He correctly perceived that David would not merely hide in fear but would employ strategic concealment, positioning himself for a decisive counter-ambush. Ahithophel's fear was not just of the physical casualties from David's first strike, but even more so, of the catastrophic psychological impact such news—"There has been a slaughter"—would have on Absalom's nascent and largely untested army. This demoralization, he correctly reasoned, would cause a general panic and mass desertion, shattering Absalom's momentum. This was a militarily brilliant assessment, highlighting David's seasoned resilience versus the potential fragility of an improvised, rebellious force. Had Absalom heeded this counsel, the course of events could have been very different. However, it was the divine will that Ahithophel's sound counsel be rejected (2 Sam 17:14), illustrating that even the wisest human plans can be overturned by God's purposes, ultimately preserving David's throne and demonstrating God's sovereign hand in human affairs.