亞希多弗計謀落空

17 亞希多弗對押沙龍說:「讓我挑選一萬二千人,今夜啟程追趕大衛, 趁他疲憊無力的時候襲擊他,使他驚慌失措,他的部下必逃命。我只把王一個人殺掉, 把他的部下全都帶來歸順你。你尋索的人既然死了,跟隨他的人必然會歸順你。這樣,大家就平安無事了。」 押沙龍和以色列的長老都贊成這個提議。

押沙龍說:「召亞基人戶篩進來,我們也聽聽他的意見。」 戶篩來了,押沙龍就把亞希多弗的建議告訴他,問他:「我們應該照亞希多弗的提議去做嗎?如果不可行,說說你的看法吧。」 戶篩答道:「亞希多弗這次的主意不好! 你知道你父親和他的部下,他們都是勇士,現在他們就像丟了熊崽的母熊一樣兇猛。況且你父親是個身經百戰的人,他一定不會跟部下睡在一處。 他現在可能藏在山洞或某個地方。要是他襲擊我們的人馬,聽見的人會說押沙龍的軍隊慘敗了。 10 那時候,你手下的人再膽量過人,也會膽戰心驚。因為全以色列都知道你父親是英雄,他的部下都是勇士。 11 因此,我認為你應該把從但到別示巴的那多如海沙的以色列人都聚集起來,然後你親自率領他們出征。 12 這樣不管在哪裡找到大衛,我們就像露水一樣鋪天蓋地襲擊他,讓他全軍覆沒。 13 如果大衛退進一座城裡,我們以色列全軍就拿繩索把那城拉到河谷,連一塊石頭都不留。」

14 押沙龍和以色列眾人都說:「亞基人戶篩的主意比亞希多弗的好!」其實是耶和華決定破壞亞希多弗的巧計,好把災禍降在押沙龍身上。

15 戶篩把亞希多弗和自己為押沙龍及以色列長老所提的建議告訴祭司撒督和亞比亞他, 16 並說:「你們現在快派人去通知大衛,告訴他今晚不可在曠野的渡口過夜,務必要渡過約旦河,免得他和部下全軍覆沒。」

17 當時,約拿單和亞希瑪斯躲在隱·羅結,不敢進城,怕被人看見。有一個婢女從城中出來給他們報信,他們便去通知大衛王。 18 不料,有一個少年發現了他們,就去告訴押沙龍。他們二人急忙逃走,來到巴戶琳的一戶人家,藏到那家院子裡的一口井內, 19 那家的婦人用蓋子蓋上井口,然後在上面撒了一些麥子,沒有人知道這件事。 20 押沙龍的部下來到婦人家查問約拿單和亞希瑪斯的下落,婦人說他們已經過河了。押沙龍的部下就去搜索,結果一無所獲,就返回耶路撒冷。 21 押沙龍的部下離開後,約拿單和亞希瑪斯便從井裡爬出來,去向大衛王報信,把亞希多弗的計謀告訴他,請他趕快渡過約旦河。 22 大衛王和部下就動身過約旦河,在黎明之前,所有的人都過去了。

23 亞希多弗見自己的提議不被接納,便備上驢,啟程回鄉,安頓好家事以後,就自縊身亡了。他被安葬在他父親的墓穴裡。

24 大衛來到瑪哈念,押沙龍也率領以色列全軍渡過了約旦河。 25 押沙龍任命亞瑪撒為元帥,代替約押的位置。亞瑪撒是以實瑪利人以特拉的兒子,母親是拿轄的女兒亞比該。亞比該與約押的母親洗魯雅是姊妹。 26 押沙龍和以色列人在基列地區安營。

27 大衛來到瑪哈念,受到亞捫族拉巴人拿轄的兒子朔比、羅·底巴人亞米利的兒子瑪吉和基列的羅基琳人巴西萊的熱情招待。 28 他們帶來被褥、碗盆、瓦器、小麥、大麥、麵粉、炒麥、豆子、扁豆、 29 蜂蜜、奶油、綿羊和乳酪,送給大衛和跟隨他的人,因為他們想:「眾人在曠野跋涉,一定饑渴疲乏了。」

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. I would attack him while he is weary and weak.(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king(B) and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai(C) the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.(D) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;(E) he will not spend the night with the troops. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.(F) If he should attack your troops first,[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,(G) will melt(H) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.(I)

11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba(J)—as numerous as the sand(K) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley(L) until not so much as a pebble is left.”

14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice(M) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”(N) For the Lord had determined to frustrate(O) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster(P) on Absalom.(Q)

15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16 Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;(R) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.(S)’”

17 Jonathan(T) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.(U) A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.(V) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.(W)

20 When Absalom’s men came to the woman(X) at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”[c] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice(Y) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order(Z) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Absalom’s Death

24 David went to Mahanaim,(AA) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa(AB) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,[d](AC) an Ishmaelite[e] who had married Abigail,[f] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash(AD) from Rabbah(AE) of the Ammonites, and Makir(AF) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai(AG) the Gileadite(AH) from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[g] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.(AI) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:1 Or Let me
  2. 2 Samuel 17:9 Or When some of the men fall at the first attack
  3. 2 Samuel 17:20 Or “They passed by the sheep pen toward the water.”
  4. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether
  5. 2 Samuel 17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite
  6. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail
  7. 2 Samuel 17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

17 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is (A)weary and weak, and make him [a]afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will (B)strike only the king. Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” And the saying pleased Absalom and all the (C)elders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he (D)says too.” And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like (E)a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. 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.’ 10 And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will (F)melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, (G)from Dan to Beersheba, (H)like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will (I)pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For (J)the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15 (K)Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night (L)in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” 17 (M)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz (N)stayed at (O)En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house (P)in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. 19 (Q)Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So (R)the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, (S)“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to (T)his house, to his city. Then he [b]put his (U)household in order, and (V)hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 Then David went to (W)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made (X)Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was [c]Jithra, an [d]Israelite, who had gone in to (Y)Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that (Z)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, (AA)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and (AB)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty (AC)in the wilderness.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:2 tremble with fear
  2. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit. gave charge concerning his house
  3. 2 Samuel 17:25 Jether, 1 Chr. 2:17
  4. 2 Samuel 17:25 So with MT, some LXX mss., Tg.; some LXX mss. Ishmaelite (cf. 1 Chr. 2:17); Vg. of Jezrael