2 Samuel

2 Samuel 17:7–14

7Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”

8He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. 9Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first,b whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba— a multitude like the sand on the seashore— be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

13If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”

14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

Footnotes

  • b 17:9 Or If he should attack your troops first

Read all of 2 Samuel 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 17:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Hushaiחוּשַׁ֖יḥū·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH2365 Chushai
repliedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Thisהַזֹּֽאת׃haz·zōṯArticle; Pronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
timeבַּפַּ֥עַםbap·pa·‘amPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH6471 beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
the adviceהָעֵצָ֛הhā·‘ê·ṣāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH6098 counsel, advice
of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל’ă·ḥî·ṯō·p̄elNoun - proper - masculine singularH302 Achithophel
is notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
soundטוֹבָ֧הṭō·w·ḇāhAdjective - feminine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

2 Samuel 17:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
continuedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Youאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
knowיָ֠דַעְתָּyā·ḏa‘·tāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH3045 know
your fatherאָבִ֨יךָ’ā·ḇî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
and his menאֲנָשָׁ֜יו’ă·nā·šāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH582 man, mankind
Theyהֵ֗מָּהhêm·māhPronoun - third person masculine pluralH1992 they, them
mighty menגִבֹּרִ֣יםḡib·bō·rîmAdjective - masculine pluralH1368 strong, mighty
and as fierceוּמָרֵ֥יū·mā·rêConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine plural constructH4751 bitter, bitterness
as a wildבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הbaś·śā·ḏehPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7704 id.
bearכְּדֹ֥בkə·ḏōḇPreposition-k; Noun - feminine singularH1677 bear
robbed of her cubsשַׁכּ֖וּלšak·kūlAdjective - masculine singularH7909 bereaved, robbed of offspring
Moreoverוְאָבִ֙יךָ֙wə·’ā·ḇî·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
your fatherוְאָבִ֙יךָ֙wə·’ā·ḇî·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
a manאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singular constructH376 man
of warמִלְחָמָ֔הmil·ḥā·māhNoun - feminine singularH4421 battle, war
who will notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
spend the nightיָלִ֖יןyā·lînVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3885 lodge, pass the night
withאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH854 with
the troopsהָעָֽם׃hā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people

2 Samuel 17:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Surelyהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
by nowעַתָּ֤ה‘at·tāhAdverbH6258 now
heהֽוּא־hū-Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
is hidingנֶחְבָּא֙neḥ·bāVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH2244 withdraw, hide
in aבְּאַחַ֣תbə·’a·ḥaṯPreposition-b; Number - feminine singular constructH259 one
caveהַפְּחָתִ֔יםhap·pə·ḥā·ṯîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH6354 pit
orא֖וֹ’ōwConjunctionH176 or
some otherבְּאַחַ֣דbə·’a·ḥaḏPreposition-b; Number - masculine singular constructH259 one
locationהַמְּקוֹמֹ֑תham·mə·qō·w·mōṯArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH4725 standing, spot, condition
If some of your troops fallכִּנְפֹ֤לkin·p̄ōlPreposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5307 fall, lie
firstבַּתְּחִלָּ֔הbat·tə·ḥil·lāhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH8462 beginning
whoever hearsוְשָׁמַ֤עwə·šā·ma‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH8085 hear
will sayוְאָמַ֔רwə·’ā·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Thereהָֽיְתָה֙hā·yə·ṯāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
has beenוְהָיָ֗הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a slaughterמַגֵּפָ֔הmag·gê·p̄āhNoun - feminine singularH4046 blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence
among the troopsבָּעָ֕םbā·‘āmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
whoאֲשֶׁ֖ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
followאַחֲרֵ֥י’a·ḥă·rêPrepositionH310 behind
Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃’aḇ·šā·lōmNoun - proper - masculine singularH53 Abshalom

2 Samuel 17:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thenוְה֣וּאwə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
evenגַם־ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
the most valiantחַ֗יִלḥa·yilNoun - masculine singularH2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
soldierבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
with the heartלִבּ֛וֹlib·bōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
of a lionהָאַרְיֵ֖הhā·’ar·yêhArticle; Noun - masculine singularH738 lion
will melt with fearהִמֵּ֣סhim·mêsVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteH4549 dissolve, melt
becauseכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
knowsיֹדֵ֤עַyō·ḏê·a‘Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH3045 know
thatכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
your fatherאָבִ֔יךָ’ā·ḇî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
is a mighty manגִבּ֣וֹרḡib·bō·wrAdjective - masculine singularH1368 strong, mighty
who has valiantחַ֖יִלḥa·yilNoun - masculine singularH2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
menוּבְנֵי־ū·ḇə·nê-Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
with himאִתּֽוֹ׃’it·tōwPreposition; third person masculine singularH854 with

2 Samuel 17:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Insteadכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I adviseיָעַ֗צְתִּיyā·‘aṣ·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3289 advise, counsel
that allכָל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
from Danמִדָּן֙mid·dānPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1835 Dan
toוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Beershebaשֶׁ֔בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - feminine singularH884 Beersheba
a multitudeלָרֹ֑בlā·rōḇPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
like the sandכַּח֥וֹלka·ḥō·wlPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH2344 sand
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the seashoreהַיָּ֖םhay·yāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3220 sea
be gatheredהֵ֠אָסֹףhê·’ā·sōp̄Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteH622 gather, remove
to youעָלֶ֤יךָ‘ā·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH5921 height
and that you yourselfוּפָנֶ֥יךָū·p̄ā·ne·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singularH6440 face, before
lead themהֹלְכִ֖יםhō·lə·ḵîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
into battleבַּקְרָֽב׃baq·rāḇPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7128 battle, war

2 Samuel 17:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then we will attackוּבָ֣אנוּū·ḇā·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
whereverהַמְּקוֹמֹת֙ham·mə·qō·w·mōṯArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH4725 standing, spot, condition
we find himנִמְצָ֣אnim·ṣāVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
and weוְנַ֣חְנוּwə·naḥ·nūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common pluralH5168 we
will descendיִפֹּ֥לyip·pōlVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie
on himעָלָ֔יו‘ā·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH5921 height
likeכַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
dewהַטַּ֖לhaṭ·ṭalArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2919 night-mist, dew
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the groundהָאֲדָמָ֑הhā·’ă·ḏā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH127 ground, land
And of allוּבְכָל־ū·ḇə·ḵālConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֥יםhā·’ă·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind
with himאִתּ֖וֹ’it·tōwPreposition; third person masculine singularH854 with
notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
evenגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
oneאֶחָֽד׃’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
will remainנ֥וֹתַרnō·w·ṯarVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3498 remain over

2 Samuel 17:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ifוְאִם־wə·’im-ConjunctionH518 if
he retreatsיֵֽאָסֵ֔ףyê·’ā·sêp̄Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH622 gather, remove
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
a cityעִיר֙‘îrNoun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
allכָֽל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
will bringוְהִשִּׂ֧יאוּwə·hiś·śî·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH5375 lift, take, carry
ropesחֲבָלִ֑יםḥă·ḇā·lîmNoun - masculine pluralH2256 cord, territory, band
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
thatהַהִ֖יאha·hîArticle; Pronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
cityהָעִ֥ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
and we will dragוְסָחַ֤בְנוּwə·sā·ḥaḇ·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common pluralH5498 drag
itאֹתוֹ֙’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
down toעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the valleyהַנַּ֔חַלhan·na·ḥalArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
untilעַ֛ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
evenגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
a pebbleצְרֽוֹר׃פṣə·rō·wrNoun - masculine singularH6872 bundle, parcel, pouch, bag
can be foundנִמְצָ֥אnim·ṣāVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
thereשָׁ֖םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither

2 Samuel 17:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙’aḇ·šā·lō·wmNoun - proper - masculine singularH53 Abshalom
and allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the menאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singular constructH376 man
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
The adviceעֲצַת֙‘ă·ṣaṯNoun - feminine singular constructH6098 counsel, advice
of Hushaiחוּשַׁ֣יḥū·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH2365 Chushai
the Architeהָאַרְכִּ֔יhā·’ar·kîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH757 Arkite
betterטוֹבָ֗הṭō·w·ḇāhAdjective - feminine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
thanמֵעֲצַ֖תmê·‘ă·ṣaṯPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH6098 counsel, advice
of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל’ă·ḥî·ṯō·p̄elNoun - proper - masculine singularH302 Achithophel
For the LORDוַיהוָ֣הYah·wehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
had purposedצִוָּ֗הṣiw·wāhVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
to thwartלְהָפֵ֞רlə·hā·p̄êrPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH6565 break, frustrate
the goodהַטּוֹבָ֔הhaṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
counselעֲצַ֤ת‘ă·ṣaṯNoun - feminine singular constructH6098 counsel, advice
of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙’ă·ḥî·ṯō·p̄elNoun - proper - masculine singularH302 Achithophel
in order toלְבַעֲב֗וּרlə·ḇa·‘ă·ḇūrPreposition-l, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH5668 crossed, transit, account
bringהָבִ֧יאhā·ḇîVerb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH935 come in, come, go in, go
disasterהָרָעָֽה׃סhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
onאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Absalomאַבְשָׁל֖וֹם’aḇ·šā·lō·wmNoun - proper - masculine singularH53 Abshalom

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Samuel 17:8 Hosea 13:8 · 1 Samuel 16:18 · Hebrews 11:32–34 · Daniel 7:5 · Proverbs 17:12

2 Samuel 17:10 Joshua 2:9–11

2 Samuel 17:11 Genesis 22:17 · Psalm 9:16 · Judges 20:1 · Joshua 11:4

2 Samuel 17:13 Matthew 24:2

2 Samuel 17:14 2 Samuel 15:34 · 1 Corinthians 1:19–20 · Proverbs 19:21 · Isaiah 8:10 · 2 Samuel 15:31 · Job 5:12–14 · 1 Corinthians 3:19 · Proverbs 21:30 · Genesis 32:28 · 2 Samuel 16:23 · Luke 16:8 · Lamentations 3:37

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.