Deep Dive

II Samuel 17:2

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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

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 2

The contest between David and Absalom is now hasting towards a crisis. It must be determined by the sword, and preparation is made accordingly in this chapter. I. Absalom calls a council of war, in which Ahithophel urges despatch (Sa2 17:1-4), but Hushai recommends deliberation (Sa2 17:5-13); and Hushai's counsel is agreed to (Sa2 17:14), for vexation at which Ahithophel hangs himself (Sa2 17:23). II. Secret intelligence is sent to David (but with much difficultly) of their proceedings (Sa2 17:15-21). III. David marches to the other side Jordan (Sa2 17:22-24), and there his camp is victualled by some of his friends in that country (Sa2 17:27-29). IV. Absalom and his forces march after him into the land of Gilead on the other side Jordan (Sa2 17:25, Sa2 17:26). There we shall, in the next chapter, find the cause decided by a battle: hitherto, every thing has looked black upon poor David, but now the day of his deliverance begins to dawn.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 2

בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָגֵעַ (yâgêaʻ, H3023) — tired; hence (transitive) tiresome רָפֶה (râpheh, H7504) — slack (in body or mind) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חָרַד (chârad, H2729) — to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king

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Cross-references

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I Kings 22:31rank 5

Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

II Samuel 16:14rank 5

Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

Zechariah 13:7rank 4

Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,against the man who is My Companion,declares the LORD of Hosts.Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Matthew 26:31rank 4

Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

John 11:50rank 4

You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

Deuteronomy 25:18rank 3

how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.

Matthew 21:38rank 3

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

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