2 Samuel 17:9
ESV
Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
NIV
Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’
NASB
Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’
CSB
He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves or some other place. If some of our troops fall first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
NLT
He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered.
KJV
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
NKJV
Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
What does 2 Samuel 17:9 mean?
Wise Ahithophel has betrayed David. The famed counselor joined David's son Absalom's quest to take the crown and the nation (2 Samuel 15:1–12). He's had Absalom sleep with David's concubines to proclaim dominance and encourage his followers (2 Samuel 16:20–22). Now Ahithophel wants to take an army and attack David's exiles while they're tired and afraid. He'll kill David and bring back his servants to bow before Absalom (2 Samuel 17:1–3).Ahithophel's plan is a good one. Currently, David and his people are at the Jordan River, exhausted and afraid. They don't know if they should cross or if Absalom will give them time to rest (2 Samuel 17:14). An attack now would find them disorganized, unprepared, and exhausted.
Absalom pauses, though, and asks his new counselor: his father's old friend Hushai (2 Samuel 16:16–19). Hushai offers three reasons why Ahithophel's plan will fail: David and his men are mighty, they're furious, and their wily (2 Samuel 17:5–8). Hushai reminds Absalom and the elders that David spent many years in hiding and protecting powerless civilians when Saul was chasing him (1 Samuel 22:1–2). Ahithophel's men will melt the first time they see blood (2 Samuel 17:10).
Hushai proposes an alternative plan. They should call fighting men from all the tribes to go into battle under Absalom's command. That way, they can destroy David's army, and even if he hides in a city, they can tear that city down (2 Samuel 17:11–13). Absalom and the elders agree with Hushai. It's not clear if they ever realize he's still working for David (2 Samuel 15:32–37).
This new plan is a massive tactical error. But the elders and Absalom will prefer it. It seems that only Ahithophel understands that God is actively working against Absalom's forces (2 Samuel 17:14, 23).
