But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
- KJV And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy 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?”
- 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 19:25When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
- Prov 18:24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
- 2 Sam 15:32–37When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.
- Deut 32:6Is this the way you repay Yahweh, foolish and unwise people? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.
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.