Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”
- KJV And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
- BSB Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
- NASB Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”
- NLT “And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”
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
Hushai argues he should naturally serve the son just as he served the father. The reasoning sounds plausible to Absalom but conceals Hushai's true allegiance to David.
Overview
By appealing to continuity of service 'in the presence of his son,' Hushai disarms Absalom's suspicion and secures a place in the rebel's council. This access will prove decisive when Hushai later undermines Ahithophel's deadly advice. The episode shows God positioning a faithful servant to protect His anointed, a quiet instance of providence guarding the line through which Christ would come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Sam 15:34but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’
- Ps 55:21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- Gal 2:13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
- 1 Sam 29:8David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
- 1 Sam 28:2David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”
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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 16:19 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.