2 Samuel 15:34

34 but you can help me by returning to the city and telling Absalom that you will now serve him as faithfully as you served his father. And do all you can to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives.

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 When David reached the top of the hill, where there was a place of worship, his trusted friend Hushai the Archite met him with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.

33 David said to him, "You will be of no help to me if you come with me,

34 but you can help me by returning to the city and telling Absalom that you will now serve him as faithfully as you served his father. And do all you can to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives.

35 The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be there; tell them everything you hear in the king's palace.

36 They have their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan with them, and you can send them to me with all the information you gather."