2 Samuel 17:2

2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,

2 Samuel 17:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 17:2

And I will come upon him while he [is] weary
With travelling, and with grief, and when endeavouring to get some rest by sleep, and so surprise him unawares, when not on his guard, and in no posture of defence:

and weak handed;
while the number of men with him is small, and before the people from different parts can come to his assistance:

and will make him afraid;
strike terror into him and his then, by surprising them suddenly in the night with such a number of men:

and all the people that [are] with him shall flee;
one one way, and another another, for their own security, and leave David alone:

and I will smite the king only;
dispatch him, and let the people flee without pursuing them.

2 Samuel 17:2 In-Context

1 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.

2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,

3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.”

4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

5 But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.”