He continued, "You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. He continued, “You know your father and his men.This phrase refers to Hushai speaking to Absalom about David and his warriors. David's reputation as a formidable leader and warrior was well-known throughout Israel. His men, often referred to as "David's mighty men," were elite warriors who had proven themselves in numerous battles. This acknowledgment of their prowess serves to remind Absalom of the potential danger in underestimating them. The phrase also highlights the loyalty and skill of David's followers, which is a recurring theme in the narrative of David's life. They are mighty men,
The term "mighty men" refers to David's elite group of warriors, known as the "Gibborim." These men were renowned for their strength, bravery, and loyalty. They are detailed in passages such as 2 Samuel 23:8-39, where their heroic deeds are recounted. This group included individuals like Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah, who performed extraordinary feats in battle. Their reputation would have been a significant psychological factor in any military engagement. and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.
This simile emphasizes the ferocity and determination of David and his men. A bear robbed of her cubs is known for its aggressive and relentless nature, symbolizing the potential wrath and tenacity of David's forces. This imagery is used to convey the idea that David's men would fight with intense passion and desperation, making them formidable opponents. The use of such vivid imagery would have been a powerful rhetorical tool to instill caution in Absalom. Moreover, your father is a man of war
David's identity as a "man of war" is well-established throughout the biblical narrative. From his victory over Goliath to his numerous military campaigns, David demonstrated strategic acumen and combat prowess. His experience and success in warfare were unmatched, making him a respected and feared military leader. This acknowledgment serves to remind Absalom of David's capability to outmaneuver and outfight his enemies. who will not spend the night with the troops.
This phrase suggests David's strategic wisdom and caution. By not spending the night with the troops, David would avoid potential surprise attacks and maintain an element of unpredictability. This tactic reflects his understanding of warfare and his ability to adapt to changing circumstances. It also indicates his leadership style, which involved making calculated decisions to protect himself and his men. This strategic thinking is consistent with David's character throughout the biblical narrative, where he often seeks divine guidance and employs clever tactics to achieve victory. Persons / Places / Events 1. Hushai the ArchiteA loyal friend and advisor to King David, who infiltrated Absalom's court to counteract the counsel of Ahithophel. 2. DavidThe King of Israel, known for his military prowess and deep relationship with God. At this time, he is fleeing from his son Absalom, who has usurped the throne. 3. AbsalomDavid's son, who has declared himself king and is seeking to solidify his power by pursuing David. 4. AhithophelA former advisor to David, now advising Absalom. Known for his wise counsel, which was considered almost as if one had inquired of God. 5. The WildernessThe setting where David and his men are hiding, emphasizing the strategic and survivalist aspects of David's leadership. Teaching Points The Importance of Wise CounselHushai's advice demonstrates the power of strategic thinking and the importance of seeking wise counsel in times of crisis. Understanding the EnemyRecognizing the strengths and potential reactions of those we face can help us make informed decisions, as Hushai did by acknowledging David's capabilities. God's Sovereignty in LeadershipDespite the turmoil, God's hand is evident in the unfolding events, reminding us that He is in control even when circumstances seem dire. The Power of ReputationDavid's established reputation as a warrior influences the decisions of others, highlighting the long-term impact of our actions and character. Trust in God's ProtectionLike David, we can trust in God's protection and guidance, even when we are in the wilderness of life's challenges. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Hushai's description of David and his men reflect the importance of understanding one's adversaries in spiritual battles? 2. In what ways can we seek and apply wise counsel in our own lives, especially during times of crisis? 3. How does David's reputation as a mighty warrior influence the events in this passage, and what does this teach us about the impact of our own reputations? 4. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "wilderness" situation. How did you experience God's protection and guidance during that time? 5. How can the imagery of a bear robbed of her cubs help us understand the intensity of spiritual warfare and the need for vigilance in our faith journey? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 17David's early demonstration of his warrior skills and faith in God when he faced Goliath, establishing his reputation as a mighty warrior. Proverbs 17:12The imagery of a bear robbed of her cubs is used to describe the danger and ferocity of a provoked individual, similar to Hushai's description of David and his men. Psalm 18A psalm of David that reflects his reliance on God for strength and deliverance, relevant to his current situation of being pursued by Absalom. People Abiathar, Abigail, Absalom, Ahimaaz, Ahithophel, Amasa, Ammiel, Ammonites, Arkite, Barzillai, Dan, David, Hushai, Ithra, Jesse, Jether, Joab, Jonathan, Machir, Nahash, Shobi, Zadok, ZeruiahPlaces Bahurim, Beersheba, Dan, En-rogel, Gilead, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Lo-debar, Mahanaim, Rabbah, RogelimTopics Bear, Bereaved, Besides, Bitter, Chafed, Cubs, Embittered, Enraged, Exasperated, Experienced, Expert, Feelings, Field, Fierce, Fighter, Further, Hast, Heroes, Hushai, Lodge, Mighty, Minds, Moreover, Night's, Ones, Rest, Robbed, Soul, Spend, Spirit, Troops, War, Warfare, Whelps, WildDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 17:8 5716 middle age
5853 experience, of life 2 Samuel 17:1-16 5779 advice Library "The King Kissed Barzillai. " 2 Sam. xix. 39
And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and so does David's Lord. I.--LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS. In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land which brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely hospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice, and …
Thomas Champness—Broken BreadThe Nations of the South-East
Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the …
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations Barzillai
BY REV. GEORGE MILLIGAN, M.A., D.D. "There is nothing," says Socrates to Cephalus in the Republic, "I like better than conversing with aged men. For I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom it is right to learn the character of the way, whether it is rugged or difficult, or smooth and easy" (p. 328 E.). It is to such an aged traveller that we are introduced in the person of Barzillai the Gileadite. And though he is one of the lesser-known characters …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Continued.
In addition to the psalms already considered, which are devoted to the devout contemplation of nature, and stand in close connection with David's early days, there still remains one universally admitted to be his. The twenty-ninth psalm, like both the preceding, has to do with the glory of God as revealed in the heavens, and with earth only as the recipient of skyey influences; but while these breathed the profoundest tranquillity, as they watched the silent splendour of the sun, and the peace of …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David David and Jonathan's Son
'And David said, is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 2. And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4. And the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Mr. John Bunyan's Dying Sayings.
OF SIN. Sin is the great block and bar to our happiness, the procurer of all miseries to man, both here and hereafter: take away sin and nothing can hurt us: for death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, is the wages of it. Sin, and man for sin, is the object of the wrath of God. How dreadful, therefore, must his case be who continues in sin! For who can bear or grapple with the wrath of God? No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of heaven and earth; but if the sinner …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Letter xxxvi (Circa A. D. 1131) to the Same Hildebert, who had not yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope.
To the Same Hildebert, Who Had Not Yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope. He exhorts him to recognise Innocent, now an exile in France, owing to the schism of Peter Leonis, as the rightful Pontiff. To the great prelate, most exalted in renown, Hildebert, by the grace of God Archbishop of Tours, Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, sends greeting, and prays that he may walk in the Spirit, and spiritually discern all things. 1. To address you in the words of the prophet, Consolation is hid from …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux 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 Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 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 17:8 NIV2 Samuel 17:8 NLT2 Samuel 17:8 ESV2 Samuel 17:8 NASB2 Samuel 17:8 KJV
2 Samuel 17:8 Commentaries
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