2 Samuel 17:5 says, Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. After Ahithophel advised Absalom to send some forces and he himself after David, Absalom sought the advice of Hushai as well. We can say that at least Absalom wasn't unwilling to seek advice from more than one source, but he didn't seek advice from God, the One true source of knowledge. Verse six adds, And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou. When Hushai came, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had proposed and even though all the elders of Israel had approved Ahitophel's plan, Absalom asked him if that was what he should do. Matthew Henry says that Hushai was really attempting to delay Absalom so he could get word to David about Absalom’s plans. Though all the elders had advised Absalom to pursue David immediately, God was at work to delay his plans. Verse seven continues, And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. Hushai said that the counsel that Ahithophel had given him was not good at this time. He did not totally dispute the counsel of Ahithophel, but he disputed the timing instead. At times, we may be better off to not totally argue with those who do not follow God but to appeal to their sense of reasoning instead. Verse eight states, For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Hushai reminded Absalom that David and his men were men of war and would be as angry as a mother bear when anyone bothered her cub. He also said that David had fled, not out of cowardness, but because he didn't want innocent people harmed in the battle. It would be nice if people today were concerned about harming innocent people in war, but that no longer seems to be the case. Verse nine adds, 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. Hushai said that David and his men would lie in wait somewhere and kill some of those who were following Absalom and those that heard about it would say that there was slaughter among those who followed Absalom and they might turn away from him. Though it may be delayed, there will one day be slaughter among those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it will be too late for others to turn away. Verse ten continues, And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. Hushai added that if David successfully defeated those that first went against him, that the people who knew of David's valor, even if they had been strongly following Absalom, would have their courage fail them. At times, it may be that our best course of action as Christians is to simply get those who oppose us to question their willingness to fight against God and His people. Verse eleven says, Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. Hushai advised Absalom to gather all of Israel to him and then for he himself to lead them into battle against David. This would give David some time to prepare for the coming battle, though Hushai did not state this hidden reason for advising Absalom to wait. Verse twelve adds, So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. Hushai told Absalom that after getting all the people of Israel together to destroy David, that when they came upon him, they could utterly destroy him and those who supported him. We know that people of the world today would like nothing more than to destroy all Christians, but we also know that spiritually speaking this will never happen. Verse thirteen continues, Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there. Hushai also said that if David had taken refuge in a city that Absalom by having all the people with him could pull the walls of the city down and then defeat David and his men. This would also require that Absalom waited before attacking David. Verse fourteen concludes, And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. All the men of Israel and Absalom agreed to follow Hushai's plan. What they didn't realize was that God was behind this plan and that it would lead to the defeat of Absalom. God at times is at work in the world in ways that we may not immediately recognize. We simply need to wait by faith and do what He calls us to do.
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