Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:6
So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Absalom speaks to Hushai immediately after ordering his summoning, demanding a verdict on Ahithophel’s military proposal. This exchange occurs at the moment of royal consultation, positioning Hushai as the required counterweight to the king’s chief strategist.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיָּבֹא (va-yāḇōʾ) literally means “and he came,” denoting Hushai’s arrival at Absalom’s court. The phrase וַיֹּאמֶר אֶלָיו (va-yōʾmer ʾelāyw) translates to “and he said to him,” framing the direct, unmediated dialogue between the rebel king and his appointed counselor.
The thread — This pattern of a ruler seeking alternative counsel appears in 2 Samuel 15:32–37, where David deliberately sends Hushai into Jerusalem to oppose Ahithophel. It echoes the broader biblical motif of royal advisors presenting competing strategies in 1 Kings 2:13–25.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe how political authority demands immediate, unvarnished responses when survival hangs on strategic advice. It places the burden of discernment on the listener to weigh loyalty against prudence without emotional cushioning.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.