Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 15:34
But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father’s servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
34. and say unto Absalom ] “Hushai’s conduct is certainly no model of Christian uprightness. It is therefore curiously instructive to see it made the warrant of a similarly questionable act in modern times. Sir Samuel Morland, Secretary of State to Cromwell, in describing his betrayal of his master to Charles II., says, ‘I called to remembrance Hushai’s behaviour towards Absalom, which I found not at all blamed in Holy Writ, and yet his was a larger step than mine.’ ” Stanley’s Lect. II, 99. Stratagems of this kind, involving deliberate falsehood and treachery, have been employed in all ages, but the morality of them cannot be approved. In connexion with this question it may be remarked, (1) that wrong actions are often related in Scripture without express condemnation, because the healthy and enlightened conscience can discern at once they are wrong: (2) that many actions, allowable under the Old Testament dispensation, are not allowable to those who have received the light of Christ’s revelation: (3) that Scripture gives no sanction to the doctrine, maintained even now in some quarters, that political and social morality are not governed by the same rules. See also the notes on 1Sa 27:11; 1Sa 29:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i.e. I will be as faithful to thee as I have been to thy father; which he neither was nor ought to be; and therefore the profession of this was great dissimulation. And Davids suggesting this crafty counsel may be reckoned amongst his errors; which, proceeding from a violent temptation, and his present and pressing straits, God was pleased mercifully to pardon, and to direct this evil advice to a good end.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But if thou return to the city,…. To the city of Jerusalem, from whence it seems he came:
and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as he was by usurpation, and by the proclamation of the people with him. David directs him to address him thus, that he might have no suspicion of him, having been an old friend of his:
[as] I [have been] thy father’s servant hitherto; perhaps in the character of a counsellor, as it should seem, since as such he was afterwards employed by Absalom:
so [will] I now also [be] thy servant; in whatsoever thou shall please to employ me under thee:
then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel; for being taken into Absalom’s service, and made one of his counsellors, he would be privy to the advice of Ahithophel, and so be able to work against him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(34) Say unto Absalom.David here counsels fraud and treachery, and Hushai willingly accepts the part assigned to him, in order to thwart Ahithophels counsel and weaken Absaloms rebellion. The narrative simply states the facts without justifying them. But while we cannot too strongly condemn such a stratagem, two things are to be remembered: first, that like frauds in time of war and rebellion have been practised in all ages, and still continue; and, secondly, that David and Hushai had but slender knowledge of the Divine revelation of truth and righteousness which enables us to condemn them, and, therefore, did with a clear conscience many things which we see to be wrong.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
34. Say unto Absalom The artifices here planned must not be regarded as rules for moral conduct, but as the stratagems of war. Hushai was commissioned to use deceit to blind the eyes of Absalom and defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. How well he succeeded in this is shown in 2Sa 17:1-14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 15:34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father’s servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
Ver. 34. And say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king. ] Here David teacheth Hushai at the best ambiguo sermone ludificari, to mock Absalom with ambiguities, if not to dissemble with him. It is an easy thing, saith a grave interpreter a here, for the best men in their extremities to settle upon such counsels as are not exactly such as they ought to be.
a Mr Jackson.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
return: 2Sa 15:20, Jos 8:2, Mat 10:16
as I have been: 2Sa 16:16-19
then mayest: 2Sa 17:5-14
Reciprocal: 2Sa 15:27 – return 2Sa 16:19 – should I not serve 2Sa 17:14 – to defeat 2Sa 17:20 – They be gone Job 5:13 – taketh Psa 33:10 – The Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 15:34. Say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king, &c. This crafty counsel of David to Hushai, advising him to use such great dissimulation, cannot be justified. It must, of necessity, be reckoned among his sins, as being a plain violation of the law of truth, and only intended to deceive. Nevertheless, as this was with David the hour of temptation, and this evil advice was suggested by his present and pressing straits, God was mercifully pleased to pardon and direct it to a good end. Thou mayest for me defeat, &c. That is, by advising different measures, which, considering the great reputation that Hushai had for wisdom, David judged Absalom would be inclined to hearken to, rather than to those proposed by Ahithophel.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy {u} servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father’s servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
(u) Though Hushai was deceitful here at the king’s request, we may not use this example to excuse our deceit.