Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:6
And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not; speak thou.
And when Hushai was come to Absalom,…. Into the council chamber, very probably:
Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner; and then related the counsel he had given as before:
shall we do [after] his saying? is it right to proceed on this scheme, and carry it into execution?
if not, speak thou; thy mind freely, without any reserve, or fear of giving any offence.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In answer to Absalom’s inquiry, “Shall we do his word (i.e., follow Ahithophel’s advice) or not?” Hushai said, “The advice is not good that Ahithophel hath given this time;” and then still further explained (2Sa 17:8): “Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are heroes, and of a ferocious disposition (like Jdg 18:25), like a bear in the field robbed of her young; and thy father is a man of war, and will not pass the night with the people,” sc., so that it would be possible to come upon him unawares and slay him ( with , as in Job 19:4). The idea that is to be taken as a Hiphil, in the sense of “and does not let the people lodge for the night” (Bttcher), is quite untenable, since it does not tally with 2Sa 17:9, “Behold, he is hid now in one of the pits, or one of the places ( are hiding-places that are strong by nature, are places rendered strong by art); and it comes to pass that he falls upon them at the first: so will men hear it, and say a defeat has taken place among the people that follow Absalom.” with , as in Jos 11:7, to fall upon a person. The subject to is David, but it is not mentioned as being evident enough from the context; so that there is no necessity for the emendation , which Thenius proposes. The suffix relates to those making the attack, the hosts of Absalom. Thenius has given the meaning correctly: “The report that David has made an attack will be sufficient to give rise to the belief that our men have sustained a severe defeat.”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2Sa 17:6. When Hushai was come to Absalom, &c. Ahithophel proposed all imaginable advantage to the evil cause in which he was engaged, from expedition, upon the principle mentioned by Tacitus, that “nothing determines civil discords so happily as dispatch.” Hushai, on the contrary, wholly laid himself out to protract and to delay: for delay would not only ward off David’s present danger, but would also, as the same Tacitus observes, give ill men time to repent, and the good to unite. And it is certain, that in all contests of this kind, that remark of Livy will always hold good, that when men have time to think, there will never be wanting those who will be glad to gain the favour of the right side by adhering to the public good. These were the principles of Husai’s advice; and his advice, as being much better suited to Absalom’s cruelty as well as his vanity, and seemingly to the interest of his ambition as well as the safety of his followers, who cared to put nothing to the hazard of a small party, easily prevailed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 17:6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not; speak thou.
Ver. 6. If not, speak thou. ] Thou hast free liberty of counsel given thee, make use of it. And so he did to the hazard of his life, but with singular good success, showing himself to be vir bonus dicendi peritus, wise and well-spoken.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
saying: Heb. word, 2Sa 17:6
Reciprocal: 1Ki 12:9 – General 2Ch 10:6 – What counsel 2Ch 10:9 – What advice