AHITHOPHEL’S COUNSEL DEFEATED David remained seven and a half years in Hebron, as a king over the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2: 4); until men from all the tribes, together with Abner, came to ask him to reign over them; Then he moved to Jerusalem, as the capital of all Israel. Absalom, on the contrary to his father, sent messengers to all the tribes, to proclaim him a king; and hastened to move from Hebron to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16: 15). Yet, he did not find comfort, although he got the kingdom in a hurry, without any struggle against his father and his men. Now, Ahithophel came to him with a counsel, though wicked, yet counted good enough to realize the goal of Absalom. But God defeated that counsel by another one presented by Hushai the Archite. 1- The counsel of Ahithophel 1-4 2- The counsel of Hushai defeats that of Ahithophel 5-14 3- Two messengers are sent to warn David 15-22 4- Ahithophel hangs himself 23 5- Absalom gets ready for war 24-26 6- David in Mahnaim 27-29 1- The counsel of Ahithophel: Ahithophel , as the king’s counselor, came to Absalom with a plan to realize his goals. His counsel was, to pursue David and his men, while they were weary and weak with the factor of surprise, and before David had a chance to organize his troops, confusion would prevail, and all his men would flee, leaving David alone to be killed; All the people would then return to Absalom with no significant effort. According to Ahithophel, the matter did not require more than 12,000 selected men, to move that same evening, and return with certain victory. This counsel was considered to be ‘good’ (2 Samuel 17: 14); not that it embodied any good, but because it was good enough to realize the goal of Absalom. In it, we can notice the following: a- It came as a symbol of the counsel of ‘Caiaphas’ the chief priest, against the Lord Christ, the Son of David; who said: “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish” The evangelist comments on this saying: “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation; and not for that nation only, but also that he would gather in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11: 49 -52). Although ‘the name ‘Ahithophel’ means (brother of foolishness)1 God with His goodness, makes use of that foolish and evil one, as a tool to prophesy through him; as He did before with ‘Belaam’ the diviner (Numbers 23: 24). . Here, he makes use of Ahithophel, to proclaim that David had to die for all the people; “then all the people would be at peace” (2 Samuel 17: 3). That was realized in the Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself as a “Propitiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for the whole world” (1 John 2: 2).. That is why He provided us with his body, as a secret of 1 Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, art. 302 116 salvation for all. St. Jerome says: [Let us eat the body of the lamb-with no blemish; that takes away the sins of the world. Let us eat it in one house; namely, in the (catholic) Church spattered with love that carries the weapon of virtue1]. b- Ahithophel portrayed David and his men as outlaws against king Absalom ...; by his evil eye, as a traitor, he saw in David a rebel and an outlaw! 2- The counsel of Hushai defeats that of Ahithophel: God sends with the temptation, an opening; In every age, there were those opposing the truth, together with those set by God to destroy their opposition, or turn it to edification. When He set Pharaoh as a tyrant, He sent Moses as a strong leader. And when the devil set Ahithophel, God sent Hoshai. And When the antichrist comes at the end of time, God will send two prophets to destroy his deceptions. Although he was pleased with the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom called Hushai the Archite to hear what he had to say too, to make his final decision. Wisely, Hushai said that the counsel of Ahithophel was not good this time. ; and gave another counsel, that though seemed a better one; its goal was actually to rescue David with the following broad lines: a- According to Hushai the Archite, David, as a man of war, would surely anticipate what Ahithophel had suggested; would not encamp with the people that night but hide in some unknown pit, where Absalom’s men would not find him. In that case a fierce battle would take place, in which many on both side would perish; but David would stay alive, as a thorn in the side of Absalom. b- Absalom would be facing David, a wise and experienced man of war, who could plan well with few, yet strong and valiant men. That is why doing things in a hurry was not to the benefit of Absalom; but he needed to slow down, think more carefully, then move seriously, and on a large scale, to avoid defeat and loss of people’s trust. c- Absalom’s people were stretched beyond counting, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, all over the way from Dan to Beersheba; So why would not he make use of these possibilities, and restrict himself just to 12,000 men?! He was capable of coming upon David, and, “fall on him in any place he may be found, as the dew falls on the ground. And if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to pull that city into the river, until there is not one small stone found there”(2 Samuel 17: 12, 13). Thus, after terrifying him from David, he again started to praise Absalom’s capabilities, lest he might think that Hushai despised or underestimated him. Though he was backing him, he asked him to think carefully and with no hurry. ... He had to give Absalom some praise, to let him accept his counsel. d- Killing David alone would not solve Absalom’s problem; He had to get rid of all his men, in order to have peace saying to him:”.. of him and all the men who are with him, there shall not be left so much as one” (2 Samuel 17: 12). This view appealed to Absalom as he did not like David’s men all the same. e- As this war would be the first for Absalom as a king, he would have to go with his men? “and you go to battle in person” (2 Samuel 17: 11). Hushai probably hoped by his counsel that Absalom would be killed in war, to avoid any future recurrence. . 1 من تفسير وتأملات الآباء الأولين: الانجيل بحسب مرقص، ص ٢٥١ 117 These points put the fear in Absalom’s heart against any haste of action, but , at the same time, satisfied his pride; If he acted with prudence, he would gather all Israel together under his leadership, to make war, serious and fierce enough to put an end to David and his men. Absalom did not realize that although there might be many who praised and flattered him, there were also many who still loved David his father; and that gaining the support of all the people of Israel, needed a long time. That was apparently the counsel of Hushai; but actually, the hidden secret behind it all, was God, the true factor to rescue David. He let Hushai have favor in Absalom’s eyes; as is said: “The Lord had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom” (2 Samuel 17: 14). God, who allowed Ahithophel to give his counsel, had Himself defeated it through that of Hushai, to grant David and his men victory over Absalom. This is the hand of God working along the ages, to His believers’ account, especially, as the Son of David-the incarnated Word of God-descended to our world to destroy every plan of the devil. St. Jerome says: [“Your way was in the sea” (Psalm 77: 19); namely through the waves; through the bitter waters where the dragon dwells ... You are in heaven, and descended to the earth ... The fountain of life came to transfer the bitter and dead sea into sweet water1] “Hushai” is a name that means (hasty)2. He hastened to David to join him during his time of affliction, despite his old age; but David asked him to stay in Jerusalem, to support him; And there he hastened to his rescue, by giving Absalom a counsel that defeated that of Ahithophel; beside sending David information about every thing going on. 3- Two messengers are sent to warn David: Hushai had, through the priests, to inform David of what happened; God made use of both the priests and the people, men and women, elders and youth, to realize this goal, to proclaim that the Church is one body, with all its members moving by one Spirit; every member has his own effective role3. a- Hushai sent to the two priests: Zadok and Abiatjhar, to inform them about what happened concerning Ahithophel and himself, to let them act accordingly. He asked them to send a word to David in the plains of the wilderness (2 Samuel 15: 28); namely, in the west bank of the Jordan, lest he and all the people with him would be swallowed; in case Absalom would happen to change his mind and accept the counsel of Ahithophel, and attack David that night. Hushai represents the People’s leaderships who are committed to work with those of the Church, with the Spirit of unity and cooperation, as members of one body, to exchange love, and consummate the one work of the Church. Any selfishness on one of the two fronts, would lead to the destruction of the church; The Bishop; according to St. John Chrysostom, is a Bishop by his people; and the people work in harmony with their Bishop; so the blessing would come, and God would work through all. 1On Ps. 12. 2 Strong …, art. 2365. 3 راجع أقوال الآباء في هذا الشأن في كتابنا: "الحب الجامع أو دور الشعب كنسياً". 118 ‘Hushai,’ symbolically meaning (hasty) hastened to ‘Zadok,’ meaning (righteous)1, and to ‘Abiathar,’ meaning (father of riches)2-the two priests-to consider what they should do under the circumstances. The two priests, in cooperation with the people, represent the priestly role in ministry; namely, the work through the righteous or sanctified life in the Lord; beside the fatherhood, rich with love. In other words, if the people hasten to the priests, this is because they expect to find in them, before anything else, the sanctity of life, and the true fatherhood, full of love and compassion. b- A maidservant set forth to carry the message of the two old priests Zadok and Abiathar, to their young priest sons: ‘Jonathan,’ meaning in Hebrew (Gift of Jehovah)3, and ‘Ahimaaz,’ meaning (brother of anger)4; who were staying at ‘En rogel,’ meaning (traveler’s eye)5, waiting for the message. The Church is in need of all its members and its priests; It was not possible for Hushai to realize his mission without the poor maidservant; and for the old priests to act without the two young priests. I wish the rich feel his need for the poor; and the old priest, would not take the young priest lightly! The names of those young men, bear a symbolic meaning; It is fitting for the old and mature people, to regard the youth, through two angles: The first angle, is that they are a gift from God (Jonathan); A young man is not a tool in the hand of the old, but he is a man of God, with his own personality, talents, and thoughts; things that the old should acknowledge; and not seek to pour the youth in molds, according to their own minds6. The second angle is , that we should accept the youth, known for their natural quick temper and anger, as brothers (Ahimaaz = brother of anger), to transfer their flaring emotions, into edification, through sanctifying, and not destroying them. The two young men were staying at ‘En Rogel,’ or (traveler’s eye); as the youth tend to prefer continuous movement to relaxing and stationary life. It is not fitting for the old to attack the youth on account of their actions, but to support them with love and care and wisdom; so that all will proceed together in growth for edification. c- The two young priests dared not be seen coming into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17: 17); being known to be followers of David. However, a lad saw them and told Absalom. It is as though, with every action on our part, we should expect an unforeseen opposition by the devil; That is why, no human plan will ever succeed, however intact it is, unless it is supported by God’s care and grace. d- The two young priest set forth and came to a man’s house in ‘Bahurim,’ meaning (youth)7, the same city from which, ‘Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite,’ came to curse David and throw stones and dust at him (2 Samuel 16: 5, 6, 17). The city, from which came a man to oppose David, there was a believing woman who worked for him; She hid the two men in a dry well, placed a covering over the well’s mouth, then spread ground grain on it. We can say that the same city that produced someone to insult David, who bore with him with a big heart, also produced a woman with an equally big 1 Strong, art 6659. 2 Ibid. art 54. 3 Ibid. art 3129. 4 Ibid. art 290. 5 Ibid. art 5883. .6 ¡ 6 راجع كتابنا: دعوني أنمو، 1988 ، باب 3 7 Strong, art. 980. 119 heart toward David and his men. God has listened to the words that David uttered there: “It may be that the Lord will look at my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day” (2 Samuel 16: 12). Wherever there is a peaceful bearing of insults and curses, there will be salvation! The man cursed David, while the woman worked to rescue his life ... I wish both sexes realize their positive roles in working to the account of God’s kingdom. The man who cursed David, probably refers to the congregation of the Jews, who denied and rejected the Savior; while the woman refers to the congregation of the Gentiles, who accepted by faith, the holy well of Baptism, covered with divine love through the blood shed on the cross. e- When Absalom’s servants searched and could not find the two young priests, she said to them, “They have gone over the water brook” (2 Samuel 17: 20). In that, the woman lied, as did ‘Rahab’ (Joshua 2: 1-7), Michal (1 Samuel 19: 12), and Hushai (2 Samuel 15: 34). This is unjustified human weakness. f- They came up out of the well, and set forth to David, to tell him to hasten to cross with his people over the water, whatever the difficulties might be. So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan (2 Samuel 17: 23). 4- Ahithophel hangs himself: Absalom did not follow the counsel of the arrogant Ahithophel; who set forth to his house, where he hanged himself and died, after putting his household in order (2 Samuel 17: 23) He did that for two main reasons: Firstly, for the sake of his personal dignity and his feelings having been hurt by the acceptance of the counsel of someone else. And secondly, because he realized that Hushai’s counsel would definitely lead to the destruction of Absalom; in which case the return of David to his throne, would imply his execution as a traitor. Hanging himself in his house, refers to the fact that what befell him is a natural fruit of the ‘self’ or the ‘ego,’ he shut himself in, with no opening of heart nor love for others. St. Macari the Great confirms in the homilies referred to him, that there is no salvation outside the others. And St. (Mar) Ephram says: [Who lends his arm to help his brother, will have the arm of the Lord to help him1] . Ahithophel turned into a symbol of Judas, the traitor who likewise, hanged himself 5- Absalom gets ready for war: David and his men crossed over the Jordan to ‘Mahnaim,’ a city of Levites at the northern boundary of the Gad territory (2 Samuel 2: 8); It was a location convenient for David, because it was fortified. Absalom also crossed over the Jordan with his troops under the leadership of ‘Amasa,’ meaning (burden)2, who had the same relationship to Absalom as his cousin 1 Ibid. hom. 48. 2 Strong, art. 6021. 120 ‘Joab.’ Actually ‘Amasa’ turned to be a real (burden) on Absalom, and not a help for him; as Absalom was killed in the only battle he went through against his father, with ‘Amasa’ as a commander. 6- David in Mahnaim: David and his men came to Mahnaim, where ‘Shobi’ the son of Nahash, ‘Machir’ the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, brought provisions as an offer of love, that David accepted amid his affliction and troubles. That is why he sang his 23 rd. Psalm saying: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” He was offered a practical jest of love in Mahnaim, far from the capital of his kingdom, when several of his friends opposed and betrayed him. David taking refuge in ‘Mahnaim,’ meaning (two camps), refers to Lord Christ’s transfiguration in his Church of the Old and the New Testaments. In Mahnaim, there was ‘Shobi,’ meaning the (captor)1; ‘Machir,’ meaning the (salesman)2, from ‘Ammiel,’ meaning the (people of God)3; and ‘Barzillai,’ meaning (Iron- heart)4. All these ministered to David by offering him and his men equipment and different kinds of food, amid their afflictions and troubles.. It is as though, it is fitting for the believers of the two Testaments: the Old and the New, to acquire the following attributes: a- To be ‘captors’ and not ‘captives’; who know how to have their life and feelings, led by the power of the Spirit, not enslaved to carnal lusts; holding in their hands, the inner leadership, by the Holy Spirit in them. b- To be ‘salesmen’; namely, to have a positive role in the Church; feeling a kind of freedom, as true members of the congregation of God. c- To have the ‘Iron-heart’; not overcome by fear, worries, or lusts; but to have the Spirit of victory, and conquest, by Christ Jesus, the leader of the spiritual procession. 1 Ibid. art 7629. 2 Ibid. art 4353. 3 Ibid. art 5988. 4 Ibid. art 1271.
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