2 Samuel 17:4
New International Version
This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

New Living Translation
This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

English Standard Version
And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

King James Bible
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

New King James Version
And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
And the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

NASB 1995
So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

NASB 1977
So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the word was right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Amplified Bible
So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
This proposal seemed right to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

American Standard Version
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
Absalom and all the leaders of the tribes of Israel agreed that Ahithophel had a good plan.

English Revised Version
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Absalom and all the leaders of Israel approved this plan.

Good News Translation
This seemed like good advice to Absalom and all the Israelite leaders.

International Standard Version
Even though this plan seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all of the elders of Israel,

Majority Standard Bible
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

NET Bible
This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel.

New Heart English Bible
And the advice seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the saying, pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

World English Bible
The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the word is right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all [the] elderly of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
And the thing is right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the word will be straight in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all the old men of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And his saying pleased Absalom, and all the ancients of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this word pleased Absalom and all those greater by birth of Israel.

New American Bible
This plan sounded good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
The advice pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the word was pleasing to the ears of Abishlum and in the eyes of all of the Elders of Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the saying was right in the eyes of Abessalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hushai Counters Ahithophel's Advice
3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” 4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 5Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 16:21-23
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. / Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

2 Samuel 15:12
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

2 Samuel 15:34
But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

2 Samuel 16:15
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

1 Kings 1:7
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 2:28
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

1 Chronicles 27:33
Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

Psalm 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. / But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. / We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Matthew 26:47-50
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. / Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” / Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ...

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Mark 14:43-45
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders. / Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.” / Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

the saying

1 Samuel 18:20,21
And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him…

1 Samuel 23:21
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

Esther 5:14
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

2 Chronicles 30:4
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

Esther 1:21
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

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Absalom Ab'salom Advice Elders Eyes Good Israel Plan Pleased Pleasing Responsible Right Seemed
2 Samuel 17
1. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's
15. Secret intelligence is sent unto David
23. Ahithophel hangs himself
25. Amasa is made captain
27. David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions














This plan seemed good
The Hebrew word for "plan" here is "davar," which can also mean "word" or "matter." It indicates a proposal or counsel that is being considered. In the context of Absalom's rebellion, this plan refers to the advice given by Ahithophel, a counselor whose wisdom was highly regarded. The phrase "seemed good" suggests a subjective judgment, highlighting the human tendency to rely on appearances rather than seeking divine guidance. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the importance of seeking God's wisdom over human understanding, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.

to Absalom
Absalom, the son of King David, is a central figure in this narrative. His name in Hebrew means "father of peace," which is ironic given his role in leading a rebellion against his father. Absalom's actions are a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and ambition. Despite his charismatic leadership and popularity, his failure to seek God's will ultimately leads to his downfall. This serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that true leadership is rooted in humility and obedience to God.

and all the elders of Israel
The "elders of Israel" were leaders and representatives of the tribes, often involved in decision-making processes. Their agreement with Absalom's plan indicates a collective departure from loyalty to King David. Historically, the elders held significant influence, and their support for Absalom underscores the gravity of the rebellion. This moment reflects the broader theme of Israel's recurring struggle with faithfulness to God's chosen leaders, as seen throughout the Old Testament. It also highlights the importance of wise counsel and the consequences of aligning with ungodly plans.

Verse 4. - All the elders of Israel. Their presence seems to show that Absalom professed to act in an orderly and constitutional manner, and with the advice of those in authority. It was possibly this wish to keep up appearances which made him command Hushai to be summoned, as he was one whose advice would certainly have been asked had matters gone on in their ordinary channel. So again in vers. 14, 15, Absalom acts only with the popular consent. Very probably the royal power was gradually superseding that of the tribal authorities, and this may have made David unpopular with many of the great nobles. Absalom would thus gain many adherents by associating "elders" and "men of Israel" with him in his councils.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This proposal
הַדָּבָ֖ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

seemed
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

good
וַיִּישַׁ֥ר (way·yî·šar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3474: To be straight, even, to be, right, pleasant, prosperous

to Absalom
אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם (’aḇ·šā·lōm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the elders
זִקְנֵ֥י (ziq·nê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: 2 Samuel 17:4 The saying pleased Absalom well and all (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:3
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