Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:3
and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ahithophel speaks to Absalom during the royal succession crisis, offering a military strategy to eliminate David and secure Absalom's leadership.
The words — The verb אָשִׁיבָה (a.shivah) means "I will bring back," while כּוּשׁוּב (kushuv) translates "as a return," structuring the political proposal as a marital restoration.
The thread — The text's claim that "all the people will be at peace" parallels the unfulfilled assurance in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 and stands in tension with Abner's legitimate gathering in 2 Samuel 3:21.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to first note the explicit linkage between eliminating a single rival and promising mass tranquility, then evaluate whether political peace claims actually serve the people or only the speaker's agenda.
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 I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
- 2 Samuel 3:21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
- Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”
- Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”