2 Samuel 17:13

KJV

Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover, if {H518} he be gotten {H622} into a city {H5892}, then shall all Israel {H3478} bring {H5375} ropes {H2256} to that city {H5892}, and we will draw {H5498} it into the river {H5158}, until there be not one {H1571} small stone {H6872} found {H4672} there.

Complete Jewish Bible

If he withdraws into a city, then all Isra'el will bring up ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the riverbed until not even a pebble is left."

Berean Standard Bible

If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.”

American Standard Version

Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ahithophel's chilling counsel to Absalom in 2 Samuel 17:13 proposes an extreme and hyperbolic measure to ensure King David's utter destruction should he seek refuge in a fortified city. He suggests that "all Israel" would participate in dismantling such a city, dragging its very stones into a river, leaving no trace. This radical plan underscores Ahithophel's ruthless determination to eradicate David and his support entirely, highlighting the depth of the rebellion and the lengths to which its architects were willing to go.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic narrative of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, as recorded in [2 Samuel 15-19](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15-19 - Absalom's Rebellion"). After David's hasty flight from Jerusalem, Absalom enters the capital and immediately seeks counsel on how to solidify his usurpation and decisively defeat David. Ahithophel, renowned for his sagacious and often ruthless advice, whose counsel was esteemed "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" ([2 Samuel 16:23](/2_samuel/16-23 "2 Samuel 16:23 - Ahithophel's Esteemed Counsel")), presents a strategy for immediate and overwhelming pursuit. His initial counsel was to pursue David with 12,000 men and strike him down while he was weary ([2 Samuel 17:1-3](/2_samuel/17-1 "2 Samuel 17:1-3 - Ahithophel's Initial Plan")). The verse in question, [2 Samuel 17:13](/2_samuel/17-13 "2 Samuel 17:13 - Ahithophel's Extreme Counsel"), anticipates a contingency: what if David manages to fortify himself within a city? Ahithophel's response is a testament to his comprehensive and merciless approach to warfare, aiming for absolute obliteration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern warfare, fortified cities were crucial strategic points, offering refuge and a base for resistance. Sieges were common but often protracted and resource-intensive. Ahithophel's proposal, while employing hyperbole, reflects the brutal realities of ancient sieges, which often aimed not just at conquest but at the complete destruction of enemy strongholds to prevent future resistance or as a display of dominance. The concept of "leaving not one stone upon another" was a powerful idiom for total devastation, frequently seen in prophetic pronouncements against rebellious cities (e.g., [Micah 3:12](/micah/3-12 "Micah 3:12 - Jerusalem to become a heap of ruins") or [Jeremiah 26:18](/jeremiah/26-18 "Jeremiah 26:18 - Zion to be plowed like a field")). Furthermore, the role of a royal counselor like Ahithophel was paramount; their advice could determine the fate of kingdoms, making the conflict of counsel between Ahithophel and Hushai a pivotal moment in the narrative of the rebellion.
* **Key Themes:** The passage powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights the **ruthless determination** of those aligned against God's anointed, demonstrating the depth of Ahithophel's commitment to Absalom's cause and the complete annihilation of David's reign. Secondly, the verse showcases the use of **hyperbolic language** to convey an intent of absolute destruction, emphasizing the psychological warfare inherent in such pronouncements. The literal execution of such a feat would be impossible, but its rhetorical power is immense. Thirdly, and most significantly, the narrative underscores the theme of **human cunning versus divine sovereignty**. While Ahithophel's plan was militarily astute and utterly ruthless from a human perspective, it was ultimately frustrated by God. The divine intervention, orchestrated through Hushai's counter-counsel, which Absalom foolishly preferred ([2 Samuel 17:14](/2_samuel/17-14 "2 Samuel 17:14 - Hushai's Counsel Divinely Ordained")), demonstrates God's ability to thwart the schemes of the wicked and protect His chosen instruments, even amidst their trials.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Draw (מָשַׁךְ, _mashakh_):** This Hebrew verb means "to draw," "to pull," "to drag," or "to extend." In this context, it conveys a forceful, deliberate, and destructive pulling action. It's not merely a suggestion of dismantling, but of actively dragging the city's components away, emphasizing the complete removal and obliteration of its presence. The image is one of immense collective effort directed towards total demolition.
* **Stone (אֶבֶן, _'even_):** This common Hebrew noun refers to a "stone" or "rock." The phrase "not one small stone found there" is a powerful idiom for absolute and utter destruction, leaving no remnant or trace. It signifies a level of devastation so complete that the very building blocks of the city would be removed, rendering the site unrecognizable and uninhabitable, akin to a place that never existed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover, if he be gotten into a city":** This clause sets up the contingency that Ahithophel is addressing. It acknowledges the possibility that David might seek refuge in a fortified urban center, which would naturally present a significant obstacle to Absalom's swift victory. Ahithophel, known for his foresight and strategic thinking, is considering all potential scenarios for David's defense.
* **"then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city":** This part of the counsel proposes a massive, unified effort. The idea of "all Israel" participating implies an overwhelming force, a national mobilization against David. The mention of "ropes" suggests a literal, physical act of pulling, further emphasizing the collective, hands-on nature of the proposed destruction, however hyperbolic the scale.
* **"and we will draw it into the river":** This is the core of Ahithophel's extreme proposal. It paints a vivid, albeit impossible, picture of an entire city being physically dragged from its foundations and submerged. The "river" here serves as a metaphor for complete disappearance and obliteration, a place where the city would be swallowed and lost forever, leaving no trace on the land.
* **"until there be not one small stone found there":** This final phrase intensifies the imagery of total destruction. It means that the city would not merely be conquered or ruined, but utterly erased from the landscape. No remnant, not even a single building block, would remain on the site, signifying the complete eradication of David's potential refuge and, by extension, any hope of his return to power.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Samuel 17:13 is **Hyperbole**. Ahithophel's suggestion that "all Israel" could bring ropes to "draw" an entire fortified city "into the river, until there be not one small stone found there" is a deliberate exaggeration. It is physically impossible for an army, even "all Israel," to literally drag a city into a river. The purpose of this hyperbole is not to describe a feasible military tactic but to convey the absolute and unyielding intent of total destruction and obliteration. It serves to impress upon Absalom the thoroughness and ruthlessness of Ahithophel's proposed campaign against David. Additionally, the verse employs powerful **Imagery**, painting a vivid and chilling mental picture of a city being torn apart and swallowed by water, evoking a sense of ultimate ruin and disappearance. This imagery underscores the profound desire for David's complete annihilation and the eradication of any place that might offer him sanctuary.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ahithophel's counsel, while brilliant in its human cunning and ruthless in its intent, ultimately serves as a stark reminder of the limits of human wisdom when it stands opposed to divine purpose. The very audacity of his plan, aiming for total obliteration, highlights the destructive nature of rebellion and unchecked ambition. However, the narrative immediately following this verse reveals God's sovereign hand at work, frustrating Ahithophel's "wise" counsel through Hushai's counter-advice, which Absalom, in his pride, preferred. This demonstrates God's ability to turn the wisdom of the world into foolishness and to protect His anointed, even when they are at their most vulnerable. The Lord's providential intervention ensures that His plans prevail over the most meticulously crafted human schemes, underscoring that true security and victory come not from human strength or strategy, but from divine favor and protection.

* [Psalm 3:7](/psalm/3-7 "David's Prayer for Deliverance")
* [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "No Wisdom Against the Lord")
* [Isaiah 8:10](/isaiah/8-10 "God's Plans Prevail")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ahithophel's counsel in 2 Samuel 17:13, though an ancient military strategy, offers profound insights into the nature of opposition and the unwavering sovereignty of God. It reminds us that even the most formidable, cunning, and seemingly foolproof plans devised by human adversaries are subject to the will of the Almighty. In our own lives, we may face "Ahithophel-like" schemes – situations where opposition seems overwhelming, meticulously planned, and aimed at our complete undoing. This passage encourages us to look beyond the apparent strength of our adversaries and to trust in God's unseen hand, which can frustrate the counsel of the wicked and turn their best-laid plans to foolishness. It calls us to cultivate a posture of dependence on divine wisdom rather than relying solely on human ingenuity, reminding us that true security is found not in our defenses or strategies, but in the Lord's protective care. When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, we are invited to remember that God remains sovereign, capable of delivering us from the most dire threats and turning even the darkest circumstances for His glory and our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Ahithophel's extreme proposal challenge your understanding of the nature of spiritual warfare or opposition in your own life?**
* **In what situations are you tempted to rely more on human cunning or strategy than on God's divine intervention?**
* **How does the ultimate frustration of Ahithophel's counsel encourage you to trust in God's sovereignty when facing seemingly impossible odds?**

### FAQ

**Was Ahithophel's plan to drag a city into a river literally possible?**

Answer: No, Ahithophel's plan to literally drag a fortified city into a river until "not one small stone found there" was not physically possible. This statement is a clear example of **hyperbole**, a rhetorical device used to emphasize the absolute and utter destruction intended. While ancient sieges could be incredibly destructive, involving the dismantling of walls and buildings, the idea of an entire city being physically pulled into a river by ropes is an exaggeration meant to convey the ruthless determination and comprehensive nature of Ahithophel's proposed obliteration of David's potential refuge. It was a powerful image designed to impress Absalom with the thoroughness of the plan.

**Why did Absalom reject Ahithophel's "wise" counsel in favor of Hushai's?**

Answer: Absalom rejected Ahithophel's counsel, which was considered "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" ([2 Samuel 16:23](/2_samuel/16-23 "2 Samuel 16:23 - Ahithophel's Esteemed Counsel")), primarily because of divine intervention. [2 Samuel 17:14](/2_samuel/17-14 "2 Samuel 17:14 - Hushai's Counsel Divinely Ordained") explicitly states, "For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom." Hushai, David's loyal friend who acted as a spy, offered counter-counsel that appealed to Absalom's vanity and desire for a grand, personal victory. Hushai suggested a delay to gather "all Israel" for a massive, overwhelming attack, allowing David no escape, and presenting Absalom as the glorious leader. This flattered Absalom's ego and seemed to promise an even more decisive and public triumph, leading him to foolishly prefer Hushai's advice, which ultimately led to his downfall and David's salvation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ahithophel's counsel to utterly destroy David and any city offering him refuge, though thwarted by divine intervention, foreshadows the ultimate futility of all human and demonic schemes against God's anointed King, Jesus Christ. Just as Ahithophel sought to leave "not one small stone" of David's refuge, the powers of darkness have continually sought to obliterate God's kingdom and His Christ. Yet, the New Testament reveals that every plot, every rebellion, and every attempt to "draw" God's chosen into the "river" of destruction has been decisively defeated by the sovereign will of God. The cross, which appeared to be the ultimate triumph of human and spiritual opposition, was in fact God's strategic masterstroke, where Christ disarmed the principalities and powers, triumphing over them ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Though the world's rulers conspired against the Lord and His Anointed ([Psalm 2:1-2](/psalm/2-1 "Psalm 2:1-2 - The Nations Rage Against God's Anointed")), their plans were ultimately frustrated, leading to Christ's resurrection and ascension. He is the true King, whose kingdom is not of this world ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")), and against whom no counsel, no matter how cunning or ruthless, can prevail. He reigns supreme, the "King of kings and Lord of lords" ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - Jesus, King of Kings")), and His kingdom, unlike any earthly city, can never be drawn into a river or have its stones removed, for it is an everlasting kingdom established by God Himself.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:2

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Micah 1:6

Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, [and] as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.