23 And the counsel H6098 of Ahithophel, H302 which he counselled H3289 in those days, H3117 was as if a man H376 had enquired H7592 at the oracle H1697 of God: H430 so was all the counsel H6098 of Ahithophel H302 both with David H1732 and with Absalom. H53
And Absalom H53 sent H7971 for Ahithophel H302 the Gilonite, H1526 David's H1732 counsellor, H3289 from his city, H5892 even from Giloh, H1542 while he offered H2076 sacrifices. H2077 And the conspiracy H7195 was strong; H533 for the people H5971 increased H7227 continually H1980 with Absalom. H53
And when Ahithophel H302 saw H7200 that his counsel H6098 was not followed, H6213 he saddled H2280 his ass, H2543 and arose, H6965 and gat him home H3212 to his house, H1004 to his city, H5892 and put his household H1004 in order, H6680 and hanged H2614 himself, and died, H4191 and was buried H6912 in the sepulchre H6913 of his father. H1
And Absalom H53 and all the men H376 of Israel H3478 said, H559 The counsel H6098 of Hushai H2365 the Archite H757 is better H2896 than the counsel H6098 of Ahithophel. H302 For the LORD H3068 had appointed H6680 to defeat H6565 the good H2896 counsel H6098 of Ahithophel, H302 to the intent H5668 that the LORD H3068 might bring H935 evil H7451 upon Absalom. H53
At G1722 that G1565 time G2540 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said, G2036 I thank G1843 thee, G4671 O Father, G3962 Lord G2962 of heaven G3772 and G2532 earth, G1093 because G3754 thou hast hid G613 these things G5023 from G575 the wise G4680 and G2532 prudent, G4908 and G2532 hast revealed G601 them G846 unto babes. G3516
If any man G1536 speak, G2980 let him speak as G5613 the oracles G3051 of God; G2316 if any man G1536 minister, G1247 let him do it as G5613 of G1537 the ability G2479 which G3739 God G2316 giveth: G5524 that G2443 God G2316 in G1722 all things G3956 may be glorified G1392 through G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 to whom G3739 be G2076 praise G1391 and G2532 dominion G2904 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 Amen. G281
Who G5101 is a wise man G4680 and G2532 endued with knowledge G1990 among G1722 you? G5213 let him shew G1166 out of G1537 a good G2570 conversation G391 his G846 works G2041 with G1722 meekness G4240 of wisdom. G4678 But G1161 if G1487 ye have G2192 bitter G4089 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 in G1722 your G5216 hearts, G2588 glory G2620 not, G3361 and G2532 lie not G5574 against G2596 the truth. G225 This G3778 wisdom G4678 descendeth G2076 G2718 not G3756 from above, G509 but G235 is earthly, G1919 sensual, G5591 devilish. G1141 For G1063 where G3699 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 is, there G1563 is confusion G181 and G2532 every G3956 evil G5337 work. G4229 But G1161 the wisdom G4678 that is from above G509 is G2076 first G4412 pure, G3303 G53 then G1899 peaceable, G1516 gentle, G1933 and easy to be intreated, G2138 full G3324 of mercy G1656 and G2532 good G18 fruits, G2590 without partiality, G87 and G2532 without hypocrisy. G505 And G1161 the fruit G2590 of righteousness G1343 is sown G4687 in G1722 peace G1515 of them that make G4160 peace. G1515
For G1063 the wisdom G4678 of this G5127 world G2889 is G2076 foolishness G3472 with G3844 God. G2316 For G1063 it is written, G1125 He taketh G1405 the wise G4680 in G1722 their own G846 craftiness. G3834 And G2532 again, G3825 The Lord G2962 knoweth G1097 the thoughts G1261 of the wise, G4680 that G3754 they are G1526 vain. G3152
Professing themselves G5335 to be G1511 wise, G4680 they became fools, G3471
And he shall stand H5975 before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 who shall ask H7592 counsel for him after the judgment H4941 of Urim H224 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 at his word H6310 shall they go out, H3318 and at his word H6310 they shall come in, H935 both he, and all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 with him, even all the congregation. H5712
Dead H4194 flies H2070 cause the ointment H8081 of the apothecary H7543 to send forth H5042 a stinking savour: H887 so doth a little H4592 folly H5531 him that is in reputation H3368 for wisdom H2451 and honour. H3519
And unto man H120 he said, H559 Behold, the fear H3374 of the Lord, H136 that is wisdom; H2451 and to depart H5493 from evil H7451 is understanding. H998
He disappointeth H6565 the devices H4284 of the crafty, H6175 so that their hands H3027 cannot perform H6213 their enterprise. H8454
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 16
Commentary on 2 Samuel 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
In the close of the foregoing chapter we left David flying from Jerusalem, and Absalom entering into it; in this chapter,
2Sa 16:1-4
We read before how kind David was to Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, how he prudently entrusted his servant Ziba with the management of his estate, while he generously entertained him at his own table, ch. 9:10. This matter was well settled; but, it seems, Ziba is not content to be manager, he longs to be master, of Mephibosheth's estate. Now, he thinks, is his time to make himself so; if he can procure a grant of it from the crown, whether David or Absalom get the better it is all one to him, he hopes he shall secure his prey, which he promises himself by fishing in troubled waters. In order hereunto,
2Sa 16:5-14
We here find how David bore Shimei's curses much better than he had borne Ziba's flatteries. By the latter he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by the former to pass a right judgment on himself. The world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Observe here,
2Sa 16:15-23
Absalom had notice sent him speedily by some of his friends at Jerusalem that David had withdrawn, and with what a small retinue he had gone; so that the coasts were clear, Absalom might take possession of Jerusalem when he pleased. The gates were open, and there was none to oppose him. Accordingly he came without delay (v. 15), extremely elevated, no doubt, with this success at first, and that that in which, when he formed his design, he probably apprehended the greatest difficulty, was so easily and effectually done. Now that he is master of Jerusalem he concludes all his own, the country will follow of course. God suffers wicked men to prosper awhile in their wicked plots, even beyond their expectation, that their disappointment may be the more grievous and disgraceful. The most celebrated politicians of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai. The former Absalom brings with him to Jerusalem (v. 15), the other meets him there (v. 16), so that he cannot but think himself sure of success, when he has both these to be his counsellors; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he has that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both; for,