“Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:”
The wicked are so greedy to execute their malice, that they leave none occasion, that may further the same.
“And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. pleased: Heb. was right in the eyes of, etc”
Hebrew, was right in the eyes of Absalom .
“Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. what: Heb. what is in his mouth”
Hebrew, what is in his mouth .
“And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. given: Heb. counselled”
Hushai showeth himself faithful to David, in that he reproveth this wicked counsel and purpose.
“Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. overthrown: Heb. fallen”
Hebrew, have a breach of ruin.
“And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. appointed: Heb. commanded”
That counsel which seemed good at the first to Absalom, verse 4 . Or, commanded. For by the counsel of Hushai, he went to the battle, where he was destroyed.
“Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.”
Or, the well of Rogel. Meaning, the message from their fathers.
“And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.”
Thus God sendeth succor to his, in their greatest dangers.
“And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.”
The Chaldea text readeth: Now they have passed the Jordan.
“And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.”
To wit, to pursue thee with all haste.
“Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.”
They traveled all night, and by morning had all their company passed over.
“And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. followed: Heb. done put his: Heb. gave charge concerning his house”
God’s just vengeance even in this life is poured on them which are enemies, traitors, or persecutors of his Church.
“And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.”
Who was also called Jesse David’s Father.
“Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, basons: or, cups”
God showeth himself most liberal to his, when they seem to be utterly destitute.