Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:9
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.
9. in some pit, or in some other place ] Omit other. By pit is meant a cave or natural hiding-place; by place an artificially strengthened position.
when some of them be overthrown ] Or, when he (David) falleth upon them (his assailants).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Some pit, or in some other place – The Hebrew has in one of the pits, or in one of the places. Hence, place must have some defined meaning. It probably is used here, as elsewhere, for a dwelling-house or village, which might in that district be fortified houses 2Sa 17:12; 1Sa 26:25.
Hushais argument is that there was no chance of seizing David by surprise as Ahithophel suggested. There was sure to be sharp fighting, and the terror of the names of David, Joab, Abishai, Ittai, and their companions, would magnify the first few blows received into a victory, and Absaloms men would flee in panic. It is likely that Absalom was not a man of courage, and Hushai, knowing this, adroitly magnified the terror of the warlike prowess of David and his mighty men.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He is hid now in some pit, or in some other place; having been oft accustomed to that course, and well acquainted with all hidingplaces from Sauls time. In one of them, unknown to us, he will lurk with some of his chosen men, and lie in ambush for us; and when they see a fit opportunity, they will suddenly come forth and surprise some of our men when they least expect it, and fall upon them with great fury, and probably will at first put them to flight.
Some of them, to wit, of Absaloms men sent against David.
Overthrown at the first; implying that their good success at first would mightily animate Davids men to proceed vigorously in the fight, and intimidate Absaloms army, and consequently would be both a presage and an occasion of their total defeat.
Whosoever heareth it will say; they who first hear these ill tidings will propagate it, and strike terror with it into the rest of the army.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place,…. Some lurking place, as he was acquainted with many when he fled from Saul, and where he preserved himself from him; so that he could never take him, as he would now from Absalom, as he insinuates: but this is not all; not only by this means he would shelter himself, and be in safety; but lying thus concealed with others, and in ambush, there would be danger of his staring out of his hiding place when opportunity should offer, and falling on some of Absalom’s troops unawares:
and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first; that is, some of Absalom’s party, on whom David and his men coming out of an ambush should fall, and make a slaughter among them first, before they could do anything of consequence; and so having got the first advantage, it would serve to animate them, and dishearten their enemies:
that whosoever heareth it; at that time, or the next day:
will say, there is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom; there has been a defeat of them, and that may cause a defection.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2Sa 17:9. Behold, he is hid, &c. See the note on 1Sa 26:5.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 17:9 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.
Ver. 9. Behold, he is hid now in some pit. ] Either to secure himself, or from thence to rush suddenly upon our forces as they march by him, and to give them a defeat, and that would be of very ill consequence: Nam prima pugna, qualiscunque fuerit, totius belli praeiudicium esse videtur; for the first conflict is much looked upon as a foretoken of the success of those that shall follow: therefore Ahithophel’s counsel hac vice is not good.
“ Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he is hid: Jdg 20:33, 1Sa 22:1, 1Sa 24:3
some: Jos 7:5, Jos 8:6, Jdg 20:32, 1Sa 14:14, 1Sa 14:15
over thrown: Heb. fallen
Reciprocal: Jer 41:9 – because of Gedaliah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 17:9-10. Behold, he is now hid in some pit Having been often accustomed to that course, and well acquainted with all hiding-places from Sauls time. In one of them, unknown to us, he will lurk with some of his chosen men, and lie in ambush for us; and when they see a fit opportunity, they will suddenly come forth and surprise some of our men, when they least expect it, and probably at first put them to flight. When some of them be overthrown Namely, of Absaloms men sent against David. At the first Implying, that their good success at first would mightily animate Davids men to proceed vigorously in the fight, and intimidate Absaloms army, and consequently would be both a presage and an occasion of their total defeat. Whosoever heareth it will say, &c. They who first hear these ill tidings will propagate them, and strike terror with them into the rest of the army, whose fear will make them think the slaughter greater than it is. He also that is valiant shall utterly melt For men, even the most valiant, are apt to form conjectures of the final issue by the beginning; and it is a great encouragement to men to fight, when they prosper at the first onset, and a great discouragement when they are worsted. All Israel knoweth that thy father is a valiant man, &c. The known fame of the prodigious valour of thy father and his followers will easily gain credit to the report of their being victorious, and strike the stoutest of our men with dread, even Ahithophel himself, if he should go with them.