II Samuel 16:16
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And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In the close of the foregoing chapter we left David flying from Jerusalem, and Absalom entering into it; in this chapter, I. We are to follow David in his melancholy flight; and there we find him, 1. Cheated by Ziba (Sa2 16:1-4). 2. Cursed by Shimei, which he bears with wonderful patience (Sa2 16:5-14). II. We are to meet Absalom in his triumphant entry; and there we find him, 1. Cheated by Hushai (Sa2 16:15-19). 2. Counselled by Ahithophel to go in unto his father's concubines (Sa2 16:20-23).
Open source ↗16:16 Long live the king! Hushai’s words were deliberately ambiguous. He was in fact an agent of the true king—David was truly “the man . . . chosen by the Lord” (16:18). Hushai avoided using the king’s name, leading Absalom to believe that Hushai was loyal to him rather than to David.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”
For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever!
Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”