But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2 SAMUEL 15:34KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 15:34 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 15:34 mean?

In 2 Samuel 15:34, David asks Hushai to return to Jerusalem and present himself as a servant of Absalom, David’s son, who has claimed the throne. Hushai’s real task is to help David by undermining the advice of Ahithophel, who is advising Absalom.

David gives Hushai words that make his change of allegiance sound natural: he has served the father and will now serve the son. After David says in verse 33 that Hushai would be a burden if he went with him, David describes a different way Hushai can help.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 15:34

  • “defeat” — פָּרַר (parar): This word can mean to frustrate or bring something to nothing. Here David wants Hushai to make Ahithophel’s advice ineffective.
  • “counsel” — עֵצָה (ʿetsah): This word means advice or a plan. David is concerned with the guidance Ahithophel gives Absalom, not with defeating Ahithophel in a battle.

Why 2 Samuel 15:34 matters

  • Hushai’s promised service to Absalom is part of a plan to aid David. David tells him, “then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.”
  • Hushai’s access to Absalom matters as much as his words. In the verses that follow, David also arranges for Hushai to pass news from the king’s house through the priests Zadok and Abiathar.
  • The later story shows how advice could be challenged at court. In 2 Samuel 17:14, Absalom and his men choose Hushai’s advice over Ahithophel’s.

Where else these words appear

“Ahithophel” Hebrew H302 · used in 17 verses

  • 2 Samuel 15:12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
  • 2 Samuel 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
  • 2 Samuel 17:15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

“hitherto” Hebrew H227 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • 1 Kings 9:11 ( Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

“defeat” Hebrew H6565 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Isaiah 33:8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

“counsel” Hebrew H6098 · used in 85 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
  • Job 22:18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
  • Isaiah 14:26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.