Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.
- KJV Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
- NKJV Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
- NASB Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight.
- NLT Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
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
Ahithophel proposes a swift night attack with a select force to kill David before he can regroup. The plan is militarily sound and deadly in its urgency.
Overview
Ahithophel's strategy targets the moment of David's greatest weakness, offering speed and decisiveness. Humanly it is the wisest course, which makes its eventual rejection all the more clearly the hand of God. The verse intensifies the suspense of whether David's prayer will be answered before this lethal counsel is acted upon.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Isa 59:7–8Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
- Ps 4:8I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
- Ps 3:3–5But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
- Ps 109:2–4For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.
- Prov 4:16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
- Prov 1:16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
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 17:1 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.