And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
- BSB “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
- NKJV So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
- NASB But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
- NLT “Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Absalom questions Hushai's loyalty, asking why he abandoned his friend David. It exposes the awkward position of Hushai, who is secretly David's spy.
Overview
As Absalom enters Jerusalem, Hushai greets him, and Absalom tests him by pointing to his known friendship with David. The taunt 'Is this your kindness to your friend?' shows Absalom's suspicion, yet God will use Hushai's apparent defection to thwart Absalom's plans. The scene illustrates how God can work through risky, costly faithfulness, foreshadowing the truer Friend who lays down His life rather than betray His own.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Sam 19:25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
- Prov 18:24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
- Prov 17:17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- 2 Sam 15:32–37And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
- Deut 32:6Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 16:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.