What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 17:9? Surely by now he is hiding in a cave Hushai begins by planting an image of David’s elusiveness: “Surely by now he is hiding in a cave”. He reminds Absalom that David is a seasoned guerrilla fighter who knows the Judean wilderness better than anyone (1 Samuel 22:1; 24:3). Hushai’s point is simple: David will not be found easily, so rushing a smaller force against him is reckless. The warning echoes what Saul learned the hard way—David can disappear into terrain that favors the defender (Psalm 57 title, “when he fled from Saul in the cave”). Or some other location Hushai widens the possibilities: David might be “in a cave or some other location.” In other words, he could be anywhere. The king’s unpredictable movements make a hasty strike unreliable. Cross‐reference 2 Samuel 15:28, where David himself tells Zadok, “I will wait at the fords of the wilderness.” The implication: David always keeps alternative hideouts, leaving enemies guessing. If some of your troops fall first Hushai then paints the likely consequence of an ambush gone wrong: “If some of your troops fall first.” Even a small initial defeat can unravel an insurrection. Joshua 7:5 shows how thirty‐six casualties at Ai caused “the hearts of the people to melt.” A similar panic struck Israel when 4,000 fell before the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:2). Hushai knows that a demoralized rebel army would scatter quickly. Whoever hears of it will say News travels fast. Hushai predicts that any rumor of defeat will spread: “Whoever hears of it will say….” Reports of military setbacks shook Israel before (1 Samuel 4:14–17). Absalom’s supporters are a coalition held together by perceived momentum; bad news could fracture that fragile unity overnight (Proverbs 21:31). There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom Hushai concludes with the devastating headline he wants Absalom to fear: “There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.” The phrase turns the psychological weaponry on the rebels themselves. Compare 2 Samuel 18:7, where a slaughter actually happens—“the army of Israel was defeated there, and the casualties that day were great.” Hushai’s strategy is to delay action, buy David time to regroup, and sow doubt in Absalom’s ranks (2 Samuel 17:14). summary Hushai’s counsel in 2 Samuel 17:9 leverages David’s proven ability to hide, underscores the unpredictability of guerrilla warfare, and highlights how quickly morale can collapse if even a few rebels fall. By portraying a potential disaster—“a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom”—Hushai persuades Absalom to postpone an immediate attack, thereby securing precious time for David to reorganize and ultimately prevail. |
    |