Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:14
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Absalom and the men of Israel declare Hushai’s advice superior to Ahithophel’s following a military debate. This moment occurs immediately after Ahithophel outlines a siege strategy and Hushai presents a counterproposal.
The words — עֲצַת (‘a.Tzat) translates to “counsel” or “advice,” and טוֹבָה (to.Vah) means “good” or “better.” The verse explicitly states that Yahweh had purposed to thwart Ahithophel’s counsel to bring disaster on Absalom.
The thread — The event fulfills the earlier instruction in 2 Samuel 15:34, where David directs Hushai to return and counter Ahithophel’s plans. It parallels Proverbs 19:21 on the supremacy of God’s purpose and 1 Corinthians 1:19 on the frustration of human wisdom.
Why it lands — The text records that human deliberation is directly overridden by divine intent to execute judgment. Readers must note that the narrative presents God’s sovereign purpose as the immediate cause of the council’s decision, not merely a background theme.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 15:34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
- Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Isaiah 8:10 Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
- 2 Samuel 15:31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
- Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
- 2 Samuel 16:23 Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.