2 Samuel 17:5

5 Then Absalom said, "Please call also for Hushai the Arkite, and let us hear {what he has to say} also."

2 Samuel 17:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 17:5

Then said Absalom, call now Hushai the Archite also
For it seems he was not at the council board at this time; whether he was as yet admitted to it is not certain: there is something very remarkable in the providence of God, to incline Absalom to have the opinion of Hushai upon this point, when the counsel of Ahithophel was so universally approved of; and Hushai also being well known to have been an intimate friend and confident of David's, and not so settled and established in the interest of Absalom, and such a sworn friend of his as Ahithophel was; this can only be ascribed to the will of God, to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, and the wisdom of divine Providence in blinding the mind of Absalom with respect to his counsel, and inclining it to take the opinion of Hushai:

and let us hear likewise what he saith;
which he might say without any diffidence about the "counsel" given, but knowing that in the multitude of counsellors there is safety; and Hushai being a wise and good counsellor, he might hope and expect that he would give the same advice, and so strengthen and confirm it.

2 Samuel 17:5 In-Context

3 Then I will return all the people to you; when all have returned, the man whom you [are] seeking [will be dead], but all the people will be safe."

4 The word [was] right in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, "Please call also for Hushai the Arkite, and let us hear {what he has to say} also."

6 So Hushai came to Absalom, who said to him, "Shall we do according to this word [that] Ahithophel has spoken? If not, then you tell [us]."

7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel gave [is] not good {at this time}."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "what [is] in his mouth"