Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's so striking here is Hushai's bold framing of Ahithophel's advice as "not good" right to Absalom's face. This isn't just a polite disagreement; it's a direct challenge to the highly respected counselor, hinting that Absalom might be missing something crucial by blindly following Ahithophel's plan. It’s a pivotal moment where a seemingly minor critique can completely reroute destiny.
Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
David's son, Absalom, has rebelled and is pursuing his father, David. Absalom has just received critical advice from his trusted counselor, Ahithophel, on how to defeat David, and Ahithophel believes his plan will lead to a swift victory. However, another of David's former advisors, Hushai, who is secretly loyal to David, is now with Absalom and offers his opinion on Ahithophel's strategy.
Even the best advisors can give terrible advice. What makes a seemingly good plan turn sour?
Ahithophel was known for his brilliant strategies, so respected that his advice was sought as if it were the very word of God. Yet, Hushai, a spy for David, recognizes that Ahithophel's latest counsel to Absalom is fatally flawed.
The Danger of Pride
Ahithophel's plan was to pursue David immediately, catching him while he was weary. This shows a deep understanding of military tactics and human psychology. However, it also appears to be driven by a personal vendetta against David, possibly stemming from David's affair with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah, whom Ahithophel was related to. Pride and vengeance can blind even the wisest minds to the full picture, leading them to suggest risky or ultimately destructive paths.
How do you fight a bad idea when direct confrontation is too risky? Sometimes, the quiet word is mightier than the loud command.
Hushai is in a precarious position. He's advising Absalom, who is rebelling against his father, David. Ahithophel, Absalom's primary counselor, has just proposed a swift, brutal plan to eliminate David. If Hushai directly opposes Ahithophel, he risks being seen as disloyal to Absalom and likely facing death.
Planting Seeds of Doubt
Instead, Hushai uses a subtle approach. He doesn't just say 'no.' He acknowledges the potential merit of Ahithophel's plan ('a great people are with you... strong and ready for war') but then introduces a counter-narrative. He paints a picture of David as a formidable, almost mythical warrior, one who is too dangerous to face directly in battle when he's cornered ('like a bear robbed of her cubs'). Hushai’s goal is not immediate victory but to sow enough doubt that Absalom will pause and consider an alternative. This is a strategy of strategic delay and redirection, using words to undermine the enemy's plan from within.
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Understand the original words
etsah · Hebrew Noun
A word or idea offered as guidance, advice, or a plan of action. In a biblical context, it often refers to deliberate strategies of men or the sovereign purpose of God.
Ahithophel was a trusted counselor to King David before switching his allegiance to Absalom. His counsel was highly valued, making Hushai's public challenge to it a pivotal moment that required immense courage and political savvy.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in Israel's governance.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David, from the tribe of Judah, is secretly anointed king by Samuel, setting him on a collision course with Saul and eventually the throne.
c. 1002 BC
David Becomes King of Judah
Following Saul's death, David is made king over the tribe of Judah, initiating a period of division within the united monarchy.
c. 1002 BC
David Becomes King of All Israel
After a brief civil war and consolidating power, David is recognized as king over all twelve tribes of Israel, establishing Jerusalem as his capital.
c. 992 BC
David's Sin with Bathsheba
David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges for her husband Uriah's death, bringing severe judgment upon his own household.
c. 992 BC - 982 BC
Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar
David's children face turmoil: Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar, and their brother Absalom later murders Amnon in revenge.
c. 982 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion Begins
Absalom, Embittered by injustice and plotting for the throne, flees Jerusalem after murdering Amnon. He eventually returns and launches a full-scale rebellion against his father, David.
Just as Rehoboam's elders offered wise counsel that he rejected in favor of foolish advice, Hushai's intervention here shows how bad counsel can lead even a seemingly strong leader astray.
Proverbs 15:22This verse emphasizes the importance of many counselors, highlighting how Absalom's reliance on a single, potentially flawed advisor like Ahithophel, contrasted with Hushai's strategic wordplay, demonstrates the danger of unchecked counsel.
Jeremiah 8:9The leaders of Israel were put to shame because they rejected God's word, mirroring Absalom's readiness to accept Ahithophel's plan without discerning its true nature, even when challenged by Hushai.
1 Corinthians 1:20The 'wisdom of the world' is often foolishness to God; Ahithophel's 'wise' plan was ultimately self-defeating, showing how human strategy can lack divine insight.
What's so striking here is Hushai's bold framing of Ahithophel's advice as "not good" right to Absalom's face. This isn't just a polite disagreement; it's a direct challenge to the highly respected counselor, hinting that Absalom might be missing something crucial by blindly following Ahithophel's plan. It’s a pivotal moment where a seemingly minor critique can completely reroute destiny.
David's son, Absalom, has rebelled and is pursuing his father, David. Absalom has just received critical advice from his trusted counselor, Ahithophel, on how to defeat David, and Ahithophel believes his plan will lead to a swift victory. However, another of David's former advisors, Hushai, who is secretly loyal to David, is now with Absalom and offers his opinion on Ahithophel's strategy.
David's son, Absalom, has rebelled and is pursuing his father, David. Absalom has just received critical advice from his trusted counselor, Ahithophel, on how to defeat David, and Ahithophel believes his plan will lead to a swift victory. However, another of David's former advisors, Hushai, who is secretly loyal to David, is now with Absalom and offers his opinion on Ahithophel's strategy.
"Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.”" — What's so striking here is Hushai's bold framing of Ahithophel's advice as "not good" right to Absalom's face. This isn't just a polite disagreement; it's a direct challenge to the highly respected c…
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Last reviewed October 2026