2 Samuel 15:34
ESV
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father 's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
NIV
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.
NASB
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me.
CSB
but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s counsel for me.
NLT
Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.
KJV
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.
NKJV
But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
What does 2 Samuel 15:34 mean?
Absalom and his supporters are approaching Jerusalem. David and his people are fleeing east. David is barefoot, his head covered, mourning deeply as he climbs the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30). A messenger brings more bad news.David had many advisors, even before he was king, starting with Samuel. Abiathar joined him after Saul killed Abiathar's father and the other priests (1 Samuel 22:14–23). Nathan the prophet was brave enough to confront David with his sin (2 Samuel 12:1–15). Zadok is a seer (2 Samuel 15:27). We don't know much about Ahithophel except his advice is tremendously valued (2 Samuel 16:23), and he may have been Bathsheba's grandfather (2 Samuel 11:3; 23:34).
So, when David learns that Ahithophel has joined Absalom's rebellion, he is devastated (2 Samuel 15:31). It's bad that his son has spent four years planning a coup (2 Samuel 15:1–12). It's worse that David has lost one of his most trusted advisors. But there's nothing David can do to prevent Absalom from benefiting from Ahithophel's wisdom. That is, until David looks up through his tears and sees a familiar figure. It's Hushai, a friend from the tribe of Benjamin. He has torn his robes and covered his head in dirt, and he wants to join David in exile. David's thoughts go immediately to logistics and strategy. Hushai is a good friend, but he's an old man and would slow down the caravan. But he's also a wise man and greatly respected. If anyone could mitigate the danger of Ahithophel's counsel, it would be Hushai (2 Samuel 15:32–33).
The old man turns around and heads in the direction he does not want to go. He will manage to convince Absalom of his sincerity (2 Samuel 16:15–20). Ahithophel tells Absalom to send soldiers quickly to overtake David before he can raise more support. Absalom asks Hushai, who convinces Absalom into ignoring Ahithophel's excellent strategy (2 Samuel 17:1–13).
Absalom follows Hushai's advice. Hushai tells the priests Zadok and Abiathar. They send a messenger to their sons. Their sons race to David. And David has time to get his people safely over the Jordan River (2 Samuel 17:14–22).
