Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:8
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Hushai addresses Absalom’s military commanders, explaining why David’s current movements require immediate caution. He speaks directly after declaring Ahithophel’s strategy unsound, noting that David and his fighters are actively avoiding standard encampment.
The words — The verb יָ֠דַעְתָּ (Ya.da'.ta) means “you know,” stressing the commanders’ existing knowledge of David’s combat record. The noun אֲנָשָׁ֜י/ו ('a.na.Sha/v) translates literally as “his men,” anchoring the warning to David’s specific armed retinue.
The thread — The bear simile appears in Hosea 13:8 and Proverbs 17:12 to describe retaliatory, uncontainable violence. It also aligns with the early characterization of David as a “mighty man” in 1 Samuel 16:18.
Why it lands — The text states that David will not rest with his forces and will fight with desperate intensity, requiring commanders to anticipate unconventional attacks. Readers must evaluate opposition by its demonstrated tactics rather than by assumed surrender or predictable patterns.
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
For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
Cross-references
- Hosea 13:8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.
- 1 Samuel 16:18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
- Proverbs 17:12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
- Daniel 7:5 Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
- Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
- Judges 18:25 The Danites said to him, “Do not raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”
- 1 Samuel 17:34 David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
- 1 Samuel 17:50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
- 1 Samuel 23:23 Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”
- 2 Samuel 15:18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.