2 Samuel 17:15-23
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do, and this is what I have advised.
16 Now then, send a messenger quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the river crossing places of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.’ ”
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, and a female servant would go and inform them, and they would go and inform King David, for they could not allow themselves to be seen entering the city.
18 But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.
19 And the woman took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known.
20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 It came about after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, “Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.”
22 Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.
Messengers in Danger
Network of information
A network for delivering information to David had been established. From Hushai, who was inside the royal court, the information was transmitted as follows: Hushai → Zadok and Abiathar (the priests) → the servant woman → Jonathan and Ahimaaz (the sons of the priests who had remained outside Jerusalem) → David. (1) Hushai feared that Absalom might change his mind and launch a sudden attack on David and his followers. Therefore, he sent word to David to cross the Jordan River quickly. (2) However, along the way, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were spotted by a young man. They quickly fled to the house of an ally in Bahurim and hid themselves in a well. (3) At that time, the wife of the ally spread a covering over the well and scattered grain on it. Perhaps this woman knew the story of Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho (Josh. 2:1-7). (4) Later, the two messengers safely reached David. Following Hushai’s advice, David and all his followers crossed the Jordan River during the night. Whether Rahab’s lie was a sin is often debated, and the same question arises here as well. Here is how I understand: (1) This occurred in the context of war, and it was part of a military strategy. (2) Both Rahab and the wife of this ally risked their lives to help the scouts (messengers). Such actions should not be called sin. (3) Nowhere in the Bible are their lies denounced. The New Testament highly commends Rahab’s faith (He. 11:31, James 2:25). The teaching of the Bible is: “Be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). How about you?
Ahithophel’s suicide
What was the cause of Ahithophel’s suicide? He was a strategist with keen insight. The moment his plan was rejected, he likely foresaw that this battle would end in defeat. Believing that execution as a traitor was inevitable in the event of loss, he must have decided it was better to take his own life. He returned to his hometown of Giloh, put his house in order, and hanged himself. With the loss of this brilliant advisor, Absalom no longer had any chance of victory.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please help us to be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.