2 Samuel 16 Study Notes

16:15 Now is probably better translated as “meanwhile” to communicate the fact that even as David was flee-ing, Absalom and his supporters arrived at Jerusalem. The conspirators took the city with-out a fight because David’s forces had fled.

16:16 The account now picks up from 15:37. Hushai and Absalom entered Jerusalem about the same time, and Hushai’s greeting, Long live the king, was the beginning of his attempt to convince Absalom he was on his side.

Qalal basically means be light, connoting be insignificant (Jb 40:4), disgraced (1Sm 2:30), or contemptible (Nah 1:14). Floodwaters go down (Gn 8:8). Horses are swift (Hab 1:8) or fast. Days fly by. People look down on others. Passive-reflexive verbs denote be trivial (1Sm 18:23), easy (2Kg 3:18), or not enough (Is 49:6) and dishonor oneself (2Sm 6:22). The participle connotes superficially (Jr 6:14). Intensive verbs mean curse (Gn 8:21) or blaspheme (Ex 22:28). Special forms indicate shake (Ezk 21:21) or sharpen (Ec 10:10). Causative verbs imply lighten (Jnh 1:5), treat with contempt (Ezk 22:7), disgrace, despise (2Sm 19:43), or humble (Is 9:1). Qelalah (33x) denotes cursing, curse (Gn 27:12), or object of cursing. Qal (13x) means fast, swift, or floating (Jb 24:18). Adjectival qalal denotes polished (Ezk 1:7). Qol signifies indifference (Jr 3:9); qiyqalon, utter disgrace (Hab 2:16); and qeloqel, wretched (Nm 21:5).

16:17 Absalom questioned Hushai’s loyalty because he knew of Hushai’s faithful service to his father, David.

16:18 Hushai’s reply was more vague than Absalom realized. David—not Absalom—was the one whom the Lord had chosen (1Sm 16:12).

16:19 Hushai promised Absalom that just as he had served faithfully in David’s presence, he now would continue to serve in the same way at Absalom’s side.

16:20-22 Absalom’s lying with his father’s concubines would be a visible sign to everyone that Absalom was taking over the kingdom (including the harem) from David (12:8,11). See 1Kg 2:13-25 for Adonijah’s request to Solomon to have David’s last wife, Abishag, as his wife, and what happened to him as a result. Sleeping with David’s concubines would also sharpen the division between Absalom and his father and encourage others to forsake David and join Absalom. In the sight of all Israel fulfilled God’s words to David through the prophet Nathan (12:11).

16:23 The advice Ahithophel gave was normally like someone asking about a word from God. This time, however, his counsel was politically wise but immoral since David was still alive (Lv 20:11).