2 Samuel 17:2

And I will come upon him while he [is] weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that [are] with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

And I will come {H935} upon him while he is weary {H3023} and weak {H7504} handed {H3027}, and will make him afraid {H2729}: and all the people {H5971} that are with him shall flee {H5127}; and I will smite {H5221} the king {H4428} only:

I'll fall on him unexpectedly when he's tired and powerless. I'll frighten him, all the people with him will flee, and I'll attack only the king.

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;

Commentary

Context

This verse is part of a critical strategic discussion during Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. David has fled Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:14), and Absalom is seeking counsel on how to pursue and defeat him. Ahithophel, formerly David's trusted advisor who defected to Absalom (2 Samuel 15:31), offers what appears to be a brilliant, decisive military plan. His counsel, detailed in 2 Samuel 17:1-3, aims to strike David swiftly while he is vulnerable, thereby ending the conflict with minimal bloodshed for Absalom's forces.

Key Themes

  • Strategic Warfare and Cunning: Ahithophel's plan is a masterpiece of military strategy, focusing on a surprise attack against a weary opponent to achieve a quick, decisive victory. He understood that eliminating the leader would cause the followers to disperse, thus avoiding a prolonged war.
  • Vulnerability of Leadership: The phrase "weary and weak handed" highlights David's perceived state of exhaustion and demoralization from his sudden flight. Ahithophel correctly identifies this as a critical window of opportunity.
  • Divine Intervention: Although Ahithophel's counsel was strategically sound, God had purposed to defeat it. This is evident in the subsequent account where Hushai's counter-counsel, though seemingly less logical from a military perspective, was ultimately accepted by Absalom because "the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom." This underscores God's sovereignty over human plans.
  • Targeted Assassination: The chilling phrase "and I will smite the king only" reveals the ruthless core of Ahithophel's strategy: a direct, focused attack on David to neutralize the rebellion's head without needing to engage a large army.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "weary and weak handed" translates the Hebrew yagea' w'raphah yadayim (ื™ื’ืข ื•ืจืคื” ื™ื“ื™ื). Yagea' (weary) suggests physical exhaustion from the arduous flight. Raphah yadayim (weak handed) implies a loss of courage, morale, or the ability to resist effectively. It speaks to a state of being demoralized and without strength to fight, making David an easy target in Ahithophel's view. This combination paints a picture of complete vulnerability, which Ahithophel sought to exploit.

Practical Application

This verse, while describing a moment of intense political and military intrigue, offers several timeless lessons:

  • God's Protection: Even when facing overwhelming odds and brilliant human schemes, God's people can trust in His ultimate protection and sovereignty. David's escape was not due to his own strength but to God's intervention, reminding us of Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."
  • Vigilance and Trust: While David was weary, his trust in God remained, and God sent help. It reminds us to be vigilant, but also to lean on divine strength when our own fails.
  • The Folly of Human Schemes Against God's Will: Ahithophel's counsel was "as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God" (2 Samuel 16:23), yet it was ultimately thwarted. This illustrates that no human wisdom or strategy, however brilliant, can stand against God's purposes. This aligns with Proverbs 21:30: "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."
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Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 16:14 (5 votes)

    And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

  • 1 Kings 22:31 (5 votes)

    But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

  • Zechariah 13:7 (4 votes)

    ยถ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

  • Matthew 26:31 (4 votes)

    ยถ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

  • John 11:50 (4 votes)

    Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

  • Matthew 21:38 (3 votes)

    But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

  • Deuteronomy 25:18 (3 votes)

    How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, [even] all [that were] feeble behind thee, when thou [wast] faint and weary; and he feared not God.