2 Samuel 15:34

34 but if you return to the city, and tell Avshalom, 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 Achitofel.

2 Samuel 15:34 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:34

But if thou return to the city
To the city of Jerusalem, from whence it seems he came:

and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king;
as he was by usurpation, and by the proclamation of the people with him. David directs him to address him thus, that he might have no suspicion of him, having been an old friend of his:

[as] I [have been] thy father's servant hitherto;
perhaps in the character of a counsellor, as it should seem, since as such he was afterwards employed by Absalom:

so [will] I now also [be] thy servant;
in whatsoever thou shall please to employ me under thee:

then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel;
for being taken into Absalom's service, and made one of his counsellors, he would be privy to the advice of Ahithophel, and so be able to work against him.

2 Samuel 15:34 In-Context

32 It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Arki came to meet him with his coat torn, and dirt on his head.

33 David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me:

34 but if you return to the city, and tell Avshalom, 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 Achitofel.

35 Don't you have Tzadok and Avyatar the Kohanim there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Tzadok and Avyatar the Kohanim.

36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Achima`atz, Tzadok's son, and Yonatan, Avyatar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear.