2 Samuel 17:1

1 Und Ahitophel sprach zu Absalom: Laß mich doch zwölftausend Mann auslesen, und mich aufmachen und diese Nacht David nachjagen;

2 Samuel 17:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 17:1

Moreover, Ahithophel said unto Absalom
Either at the same time, or quickly after he had given the foregoing advice:

let me now choose out twelve thousand men:
out of those that were with Absalom, which shows their number to be large; and twelve thousand are pitched upon with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, a thousand from every tribe; Josephus has only ten thousand;

and I will arise and pursue after David this night;
he took upon him to be general of the army, as well as a counsellor; or this he said to show how confident he was of the success of his counsel, that if Absalom, or any other, should decline the conduct of the army upon it, as a hazardous attempt, he would undertake it himself; or rather it may be, he was not willing that Absalom should go out in person with the army, not so much for his own safety, as lest through his affection for the king he should spare him, when he fell into his hands, or they two should be reconciled; he proposed to do it that night, partly for expedition, no time being to be lost, and partly for the greater surprise of David and his men.

2 Samuel 17:1 In-Context

1 Und Ahitophel sprach zu Absalom: Laß mich doch zwölftausend Mann auslesen, und mich aufmachen und diese Nacht David nachjagen;

2 und ich werde über ihn kommen, während er müde und an Händen schlaff ist, und ihn in Schrecken setzen; und alles Volk, das bei ihm ist, wird fliehen, und ich werde den König allein schlagen;

3 und so werde ich alles Volk zu dir zurückbringen. Gleich der Rückkehr aller ist der Mann, den du suchst: das ganze Volk wird in Frieden sein.

4 Und das Wort war recht in den Augen Absaloms und in den Augen aller Ältesten von Israel.

5 Und Absalom sprach: Rufe doch auch Husai, den Arkiter, daß wir hören, was auch er sagt.