So David's friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city. So HushaiHushai is introduced here as a pivotal character in the narrative of David's reign. His name in Hebrew, חוּשַׁי (Chushay), means "hasty" or "eager," which may reflect his readiness to serve David. Hushai's role as a loyal friend and advisor to King David is crucial, especially during the rebellion of Absalom. His presence in the city signifies a strategic move by David to counteract the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom's advisor. Historically, Hushai's involvement underscores the importance of loyalty and wisdom in leadership, as well as the divine orchestration in the preservation of David's kingdom. David’s friend
The term "friend" here is more than a casual acquaintance; it denotes a close confidant and trusted advisor. In Hebrew, the word used is רֵעַ (rea), which implies a deep, covenantal relationship. This highlights the personal and political alliances that were vital in the ancient Near Eastern context. Hushai's loyalty to David, even in the face of danger, exemplifies the biblical principle of steadfast friendship and faithfulness, reflecting the covenantal love that God shows to His people. went into the city
Hushai's entrance into the city of Jerusalem is a deliberate and courageous act. Jerusalem, the political and spiritual center of Israel, is the stage for the unfolding drama of Absalom's rebellion. Archaeologically, Jerusalem during this period was a fortified city, and entering it under such circumstances was fraught with risk. Hushai's decision to go into the city demonstrates his commitment to David and his willingness to be used by God in a potentially dangerous mission to thwart Absalom's plans. and Absalom arrived in Jerusalem
Absalom's arrival in Jerusalem marks a significant moment in his rebellion against his father, King David. The Hebrew name Absalom, אַבְשָׁלוֹם (Avshalom), means "father of peace," which is ironic given his role in the conflict. His entrance into the city signifies a temporary usurpation of power and a challenge to the God-ordained kingship of David. Historically, this event is a reminder of the fragility of human authority and the consequences of pride and ambition. Scripturally, it serves as a backdrop for God's sovereign plan to ultimately restore David and fulfill His promises to Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. HushaiA loyal friend and advisor to King David. He is sent back to Jerusalem to act as a spy and counter the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom's advisor. 2. DavidThe King of Israel, who is fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion. David's strategic mind is evident as he sends Hushai back to Jerusalem. 3. AbsalomDavid's son, who has declared himself king in Hebron and is now entering Jerusalem to take control of the kingdom. 4. JerusalemThe capital city of Israel, significant as the political and spiritual center. It is the focal point of Absalom's rebellion. 5. The EventThe unfolding of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, and the strategic placement of Hushai in Jerusalem to thwart Absalom's plans. Teaching Points Loyalty in FriendshipHushai's actions demonstrate the importance of loyalty and faithfulness in friendships, especially during times of crisis. Strategic WisdomDavid's decision to send Hushai back to Jerusalem shows the value of strategic thinking and planning in overcoming challenges. God's SovereigntyDespite the chaos of Absalom's rebellion, God's sovereign plan is at work, reminding us to trust in His ultimate control over our circumstances. The Role of Deception in WarfareHushai's mission involves deception for a greater good, prompting a discussion on the ethical implications of such actions in spiritual warfare. The Consequences of RebellionAbsalom's actions serve as a warning about the destructive nature of rebellion against God-ordained authority. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Hushai's loyalty to David inspire us to be faithful friends in our own relationships? 2. In what ways can we apply David's strategic thinking to our personal and spiritual battles today? 3. How does the account of Absalom's rebellion illustrate the consequences of pride and ambition? 4. What can we learn from Hushai's role about the use of wisdom and discernment in difficult situations? 5. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in this passage encourage us to trust Him in our own times of uncertainty? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Samuel 16:15-19Hushai's encounter with Absalom, where he pledges his loyalty to Absalom, while secretly remaining loyal to David. 1 Chronicles 27:33Hushai is listed as the king's friend, highlighting his close relationship with David. Psalm 3A psalm attributed to David during his flight from Absalom, expressing trust in God's deliverance. Proverbs 27:6"Faithful are the wounds of a friend," which can be related to Hushai's loyalty and the role of true friendship in times of adversity. People Abiathar, Absalom, Ahimaaz, Ahithophel, Aram, Arkite, Cherethites, David, Gittites, Hushai, Israelites, Ittai, Jonathan, Kerethites, Levites, Pelethites, ZadokPlaces Aram, Gath, Geshur, Giloh, Hebron, Jerusalem, Kidron, Mount of OlivesTopics Absalom, Ab'salom, Arrived, David's, Entering, Friend, Hushai, Jerusalem, Point, TownDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 15:32-37 5691 friends, good Library A Loyal Vow
'And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.'--2 SAMUEL xv. 15. We stand here at the darkest hour of King David's life. Bowed down by the consciousness of his past sin, and recognising in the rebellion of his favourite son the divine chastisement, his early courage and buoyant daring seem to have ebbed from him wholly. He is forsaken by the mass of his subjects, he is preparing to abandon Jerusalem, and to flee as an …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureIttai of Gath
'And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.'--2 SAMUEL xv. 21. It was the darkest hour in David's life. No more pathetic page is found in the Old Testament than that which tells the story of his flight before Absalom. He is crushed by the consciousness that his punishment is deserved--the bitter fruit of the sin that filled all his later life …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Pardoned Sin Punished
'And It came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3. And Absalom said unto him. See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Loyal to the Core
On the other hand, look at Ittai, perfectly free to go, but in order to end the controversy once for all, and to make David know that he does not mean to leave him, he takes a solemn oath before Jehovah his God, and he doubles it by swearing by the life of David that he will never leave him; in life, in death, he will be with him. He has cast in his lot with him for better and for worse, and he means to be faithful to the end. Old Master Trapp says, "All faithful friends went on a pilgrimage years …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880 Following Christ
"And Ittai answered the king, and said, as the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be."--2 Samuel 15:21. SOME men have a very remarkable power of creating and sustaining friendship in others. David was a man brimming over with affection--a man, notwithstanding all his rough soldier-life, of an exceedingly tender heart--a man, I was about to say--the word was on my tongue--a man of vast …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916 The Will of God
"Here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him."--2 Sam. xv. 26. G. Ter Steegen. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Thou sweet beloved Will of God, My anchor ground, my fortress hill, The Spirit's silent fair abode, In Thee I hide me and am still. O Will, that willest good alone, Lead Thou the way, Thou guidest best; A silent child, I follow on, And trusting, lean upon Thy Breast. God's Will doth make the bitter sweet, And all is well when it is done; Unless His Will doth hallow it, The glory …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series) A Light to Lighten the Gentiles
P. G. 2 Sam. xv. 19-22; John xii. 26 "Wherefore goest thou with me?" Said the king disowned-- Said the king despised, rejected, Disenthroned. "Go, return unto thy place, To thy king of yore-- Here a pilgrim and a stranger, Nothing more. "Not for thee the cities fair, Hills of corn and wine-- All was portioned ere thou camest, Nought is thine. "Wandering forth where'er I may, Exiled from mine own, Shame, rejection I can grant thee; That alone. "Turn and take thy brethren back, With thy people …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others The Daily Walk with Others (iii. ).
Thrice happy they who at Thy side, Thou Child of Nazareth, Have learnt to give their struggling pride Into Thy hands to death: If thus indeed we lay us low, Thou wilt exalt us o'er the foe; And let the exaltation be That we are lost in Thee. Let me say a little on a subject which, like the last, is one of some delicacy and difficulty, though its problems are of a very different kind. It is, the relation between the Curate and his Incumbent; or more particularly, the Curate's position and conduct …
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, K ING OF K INGS AND L ORD OF L ORDS T he description of the administration and glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom, in defiance of all opposition, concludes the second part of Messiah Oratorio. Three different passages from the book of Revelation are selected to form a grand chorus, of which Handel's title in this verse is the close --a title which has been sometimes vainly usurped by proud worms of this earth. Eastern monarchs, in particular, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 15:37 NIV2 Samuel 15:37 NLT2 Samuel 15:37 ESV2 Samuel 15:37 NASB2 Samuel 15:37 KJV
2 Samuel 15:37 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
