2 Samuel 17:2

1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

3 and 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.”

4 This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
KJV
And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
WEB
I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only,
ASV
and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;
DARBY
and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;
BLB
And I will come upon him, and he is weary and weak handed, and I will cause him to tremble, and all the people will flee who [are] with him. And I will strike the king by himself,
ÅB
Da kan jeg komme over ham mens han er utmattet og motløs, og forferde ham, og alt folket som er med ham, vil flykte, og så kan jeg slå kongen alene,
OTB
Jeg vil komme over ham mens han er trett og motløs, og jeg vil skremme ham så alle de som er med ham flykter. Så vil jeg slå kongen alene,
B1930
Da kan jeg komme over ham mens han er utmattet og motløs, og forferde ham, og alt folket som er med ham, vil flykte, og så kan jeg slå kongen alene,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 22:31

    Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 16:14

    Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 26:31

    Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 13:7

    Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

    Read in context
  • John 11:50

    You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 25:18

    how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 21:38

    But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

    Read in context
  • John 18:4–8

    Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”

    Read in context