Study Guide: 2 Samuel 17
*This study guide can be used in conjunction with the message preached on October 12, 2025 during the series Imperfect Heroes.
Pray
Lord, help me trust Your wisdom over human counsel and rest in Your justice, knowing that You fight for me even when battles feel overwhelming.
Read
2 Samuel 17
Observe
vv. 1-4 | The counsel of Ahithophel
Ahithophel advised Absalom to let him choose twelve thousand men and immediately pursue David that very night. He planned to strike David while he was weary and afraid, causing his followers to scatter. Ahithophel said he would only kill David, then bring the rest of the people back, promising that peace would be restored once the king was gone. This advice pleased Absalom and the elders of Israel. Ahithophel’s counsel was urgent and carefully planned, sparing Israel from a long civil war. Yet even in his words—“I will strike only the king”—he unknowingly revealed that David was still the true king in his own heart.
vv. 5-10 | Hushai disagrees with Ahithophel’s advice
Absalom also called for Hushai the Archite and asked his opinion. Hushai boldly said, “The advice of Ahithophel is not good at this time.” He reminded Absalom that David and his men were mighty warriors, enraged and dangerous, like a bear robbed of her cubs. He argued that David would not be with the main group but hidden, waiting to strike back. If Absalom attacked too soon and lost men at the start, the news would spread quickly, and even the bravest soldiers would lose courage. Hushai knew David was weak and weary, but he painted a vivid picture of David’s past victories, making him seem too dangerous to fight right away.
vv. 11-13 | Hushai advises Absalom to raise a huge army and attack in person
Hushai advised Absalom to take his time and gather all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and then personally lead them into battle. With such an overwhelming army, they would destroy David and his men completely, like dew covering the ground. If David took refuge in a city, Hushai suggested surrounding it with ropes and dragging it into a river, leaving nothing behind. Hushai’s plan not only gave David more time to prepare, but it also flattered Absalom’s pride. Unlike Ahithophel’s plan, which put Ahithophel in charge, Hushai’s plan gave Absalom the chance to be the conquering hero.
vv. 14 | Absalom and the elders favor Hushai’s advice
Absalom and the elders of Israel decided that Hushai’s advice was better than Ahithophel’s. This was unusual, since Ahithophel’s counsel was normally trusted as if it came from God Himself. But the real reason Hushai’s plan was chosen was because the Lord had determined to frustrate Ahithophel’s wisdom and bring disaster on Absalom. David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31 was being answered—Ahithophel’s counsel was turned into foolishness. Absalom’s vanity also made him favor Hushai’s words, but ultimately it was God’s purpose at work. Though David was under discipline, God was still with him, protecting him from destruction.
vv. 15-16 | Zadok sends his sons to tell David
Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar the priests what Ahithophel had advised and what he himself had suggested. He urged them to send word quickly to David, warning him not to spend the night in the wilderness plains but to cross the Jordan at once so that he and his people would not be destroyed. This was exactly the type of intelligence mission David had hoped for when he sent Hushai and the priests back to Jerusalem.
vv. 17-22 | David is warned
Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the priests’ sons, waited outside the city at En Rogel, using a servant girl to bring them messages. But a young man spotted them and told Absalom. The two fled and hid in a well at Bahurim, where a woman covered the opening and spread grain over it to hide them. When Absalom’s men came searching, she misled them, saying the messengers had already crossed the brook. After they left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came out and warned David, telling him to cross the Jordan quickly. David and all his people crossed the river that night, and by morning not one person was left behind. God used this intelligence effort to keep David safe from immediate danger.
Vs. 23 | Ahithophel commits suicide
When Ahithophel saw his advice was rejected, he saddled his donkey, went home, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He knew that Hushai’s plan would fail, Absalom would be defeated, and he himself would be exposed as a traitor. His suicide showed both his wisdom and his folly—wise enough to foresee the outcome, but foolish enough to end his life. Scripture is clear that suicide is sin, since it is self-murder, yet it is not unforgivable. It is a tragic act of despair that comes from believing the lies of the enemy. Ahithophel’s end warns us of the deadly cost of bitterness and rebellion.
vv. 24-26 | Absalom crosses the Jordan to pursue David
David went to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel crossed the Jordan to chase him. Absalom appointed Amasa, Joab’s cousin, as commander of the army in place of Joab. This move satisfied Absalom’s pride, but it weakened his chances of victory. As Morgan observed, Absalom’s vanity guaranteed his downfall.
vv. 27-29 | David finds supporters in Gilead
When David arrived at Mahanaim, he received unexpected help from Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai, who brought beds, food, and supplies for him and his weary followers. These men, though not famous warriors, showed true loyalty by providing practical support in David’s darkest hour. Their kindness was God’s way of strengthening David, reminding him that not all had turned against him. Their simple acts of service mattered as much as any soldier’s bravery, proving that God often comforts His people through the quiet faithfulness of friends.
Credit: Guzik, David. “2 Samuel 17 - Absalom Decides His Direction.” Enduring Word, n.d., https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-17.
Application
1. God’s plans override human strategies.
Ahithophel’s counsel was wise in human terms, but God turned it aside to bring about His purpose. This reminds us that no matter how clever or powerful someone’s plans may be, God’s will stands above all. We can trust Him even when circumstances seem stacked against us.
2. God uses ordinary people for His purposes.
The messengers who carried news to David were not famous or powerful, yet their faithfulness played a crucial role in protecting the king. This shows us that God often works through ordinary acts of courage and obedience. Our faithfulness in “small” things matters to His greater plan.
3. Wise counsel can shape outcomes, but dependence on God is essential.
Absalom chose Hushai’s advice over Ahithophel’s, which ultimately led to his downfall. This reminds us to value wise, godly counsel—but also to recognize that our ultimate dependence should be on God’s direction, not human wisdom alone.
Pray (ACTS)
What is the ACTS prayer model?
A - Praise the Lord for His wisdom and power that is greater than the plans of man.
C - Confess a time you trusted in your own plans.
T - Thank God for using our simple acts of people’s faithfulness to accomplish His purposes.
S - Ask God for counsel for a decision you are facing right now.
DISCUSS
Questions for personal reflection, spiritual insight, or group interaction.
Why do you think Absalom was drawn to Hushai’s counsel over Ahithophel’s, and what does this reveal about the human heart?
How does this chapter show that God is in control even when ungodly people seem to hold power?
What can we learn from the way Ahithophel responded when his advice was rejected?
How does pride influence the choices Absalom makes in this chapter?
In what ways do you see God’s sovereignty protecting David during this difficult time?
What role do the messengers play in God’s plan, and what does this teach us about the importance of ordinary faithfulness?
How does this chapter challenge us to evaluate whose counsel we are listening to in our own lives?
What does the downfall of Absalom’s plans remind us about trusting in human wisdom versus God’s wisdom?
How does this passage encourage us when we feel surrounded by opposition or outnumbered?
What does Ahithophel’s end reveal about the dangers of pride, rejection, or despair apart from God?
How do you see God’s justice and mercy working side by side in this chapter?
How can we apply the lesson of seeking God’s guidance first when facing important decisions today?
Resources for Further Study of 2 Samuel