What does 2 Samuel 17:1 mean?

Absalom has taken Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:15). David and his people are on the run (2 Samuel 15:13–14). Ahithophel, David's traitorous counselor, knows how to make sure Absalom can keep the throne.

Both David and Absalom valued Ahithophel's counsel "as if one consulted the word of God" (2 Samuel 16:23). His first advice to Absalom was to have sex with the concubines David left behind. Doing so asserted that Absalom had completely broken with his father. It declared to everyone that Absalom was fully claiming his father's rights, privileges, and authority as king (2 Samuel 16:20–22).

The grand gesture was a sign for Absalom's followers that their chosen king was strong and resolved. But it won't defeat David. Ahithophel asks for a relatively small task force to attack while David and his people are exhausted and scared. He promises to only kill David (2 Samuel 17:2), then bring back the people "as a bride comes home to her husband" (2 Samuel 17:3). Ahithophel assumes that if David is dead, his people will readily accept Absalom as king.

David and his people are at the near side of the Jordan River, debating on whether to cross (2 Samuel 16:14). The text doesn't say how many men David has with him. He at least has the three Philistine units, the largest at 600 men, and his thirty renowned fighting men (2 Samuel 15:18; 16:6).

Ahithophel isn't the only wise man in Absalom's court. David has planted Hushai to counter Ahithophel's counsel and send messages to David (2 Samuel 15:32–37). Thanks to Hushai's quick thinking, David will have time to get his people to safety (2 Samuel 17:5–22).