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Saturday, August 16th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

2 Samuel 17:14

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahithophel;   Armies;   Council;   Diplomacy;   Falsehood;   Friendship;   Spies;   Strategy;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ahithophel;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Providence of God, the;   Prudence;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Amasa;   Hushai;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Evil;   Friend, Friendship;   Providence of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Archite;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Elder;   Hushai;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel ;   Archite ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Hushai;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahith'ophel;   Ar'chite, the;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Intend;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Since the Lord had decreed that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.”
Hebrew Names Version
Avshalom and all the men of Yisra'el said, The counsel of Hushai the Arki is better than the counsel of Achitofel. For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Achitofel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Avshalom.
King James Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
Lexham English Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." (Now Yahweh had ordained to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel in order for Yahweh to bring misery upon Absalom).
English Standard Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.
New Century Version
Absalom and all the Israelites said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." (The Lord had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.)
New English Translation
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel." Now the Lord had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.
Amplified Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster upon Absalom.
New American Standard Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For the LORD had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the LORD to bring disaster on Absalom.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel sayde, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better, then the counsell of Ahithophel: for the Lorde had determined to destroy the good counsell of Ahithophel, that the Lorde might bring euill vpon Absalom.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For Yahweh had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that Yahweh might bring calamity on Absalom.
Contemporary English Version
Absalom and the others liked Hushai's plan better than Ahithophel's plan. This was because the Lord had decided to keep Ahithophel's plan from working and to cause trouble for Absalom.
Complete Jewish Bible
Avshalom and all the men of Isra'el said, "The advice of Hushai the Arki is better than the advice of Achitofel" — for Adonai had determined to frustrate the good advice of Achitofel, so that Adonai could bring disaster on Avshalom.
Darby Translation
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. And Jehovah had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.
Easy-to-Read Version
Absalom and all the Israelites said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." Actually, Ahithophel's advice was good, but they said this because the Lord had decided to make Ahithophel's advice useless. He did this to punish Absalom.
George Lamsa Translation
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had decreed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel so that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Good News Translation
Absalom and all the Israelites said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." The Lord had decided that Ahithophel's good advice would not be followed, so that disaster would come on Absalom.
Literal Translation
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. And Jehovah had ordained to break down the good counsel of Ahithophel, for the sake of bringing the evil of Jehovah to Absalom.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Absalom and euery man in Israel: The councell of Chusai the Arachite is better then Achitophels councell. But the LORDE broughte it so to passe, that ye good councell of Achitophel was hyndred, that the LORDE mighte brynge euell vpon Absalom.
American Standard Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.
Bible in Basic English
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, Hushai's suggestion is better than that of Ahithophel. For it was the purpose of the Lord to make the wise designs of Ahithophel without effect, so that the Lord might send evil on Absalom.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Absalom and all the men of Israel sayde: The counsel of Husai the Arachite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel. For it was euen the Lordes determination to destroy the good counsell of Ahithophel, that the Lorde might bring euyll vpon Absalom.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said: 'The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.' --For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
King James Version (1611)
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsell of Hushai the Archite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel: For the Lord had appointed to defeate the good counsell of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring euill vpon Absalom.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abessalom, and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Chusi the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel. For the Lord ordained to disconcert the good counsel of Achitophel, that the Lord might bring all evil upon Abessalom.
English Revised Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Absolon seide, and alle the men of Israel, The counsel of Chusi of Arath is betere than the counsel of Achitofel; sotheli the profitable counsel of Achitofel was destried bi Goddis wille, that the Lord schulde brynge in yuel on Absolon.
Young's Literal Translation
And Absalom saith -- and all the men of Israel -- `Better [is] the counsel of Hushai the Archite than the counsel of Ahithophel;' and Jehovah willed to make void the good counsel of Ahithophel for the sake of Jehovah's bringing unto Absalom the evil.
Update Bible Version
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had determined to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
World English Bible
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
New King James Version
So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.
New Living Translation
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!
New Life Bible
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The words of Hushai the Archite are better than the words of Ahithophel." In this way the Lord had planned to destroy the good leading of Ahithophel, so He might bring trouble to Absalom.
New Revised Standard
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring ruin on Absalom.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Absolom and all the men of Israel, Better, is the counsel of Hushai the Archite, than the counsel of Ahithophel. Yahweh, indeed, had given charge to frustrate the wise counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring upon Absolom, ruin.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Absalom, and all the men of Israel said: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel: and by the will of the Lord the profitable counsel of Achitophel was defeated, that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
Revised Standard Version
And Ab'salom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahith'ophel." For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahith'ophel, so that the LORD might bring evil upon Ab'salom.
THE MESSAGE
Absalom and all his company agreed that the counsel of Hushai the Arkite was better than the counsel of Ahithophel. ( God had determined to discredit the counsel of Ahithophel so as to bring ruin on Absalom.)

Contextual Overview

1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 2 "I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone, 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace." 4 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say." 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we carry out his plan? If not, you speak." 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good." 8 Moreover, Hushai said, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. 9 "Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' 10 "And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Lord: 2 Samuel 15:31, Genesis 32:28, Exodus 9:16, Deuteronomy 2:30, 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 25:20

appointed: Heb. commanded, Psalms 33:9, Psalms 33:10, Lamentations 3:37, Amos 9:3

to defeat: 2 Samuel 15:34, 2 Samuel 16:23, Job 5:12-14, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 8:10, 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 3:19

good counsel: Luke 16:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:5 - God 2 Samuel 2:12 - Mahanaim 2 Samuel 15:12 - Ahithophel 2 Samuel 18:5 - Deal gently 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might 2 Chronicles 10:8 - he forsook Nehemiah 4:15 - God Job 12:17 - General Job 17:4 - General Job 18:7 - his own Psalms 5:10 - let Psalms 7:6 - to the Psalms 86:14 - assemblies Ecclesiastes 9:11 - that the race Isaiah 19:3 - and I Isaiah 30:28 - causing Jeremiah 18:18 - counsel Jeremiah 50:36 - dote Matthew 2:8 - go

Cross-References

Genesis 17:2
"I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:12
"And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.
Genesis 17:20
"As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 17:21
"But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year."
Genesis 17:24
Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
Genesis 17:26
In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
Exodus 12:15
'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:19
'Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land.
Exodus 30:33
'Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.'"
Exodus 30:38
"Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said,.... That is, the elders, who before approved of the counsel of Ahithophel, 2 Samuel 17:4;

the counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel; it appeared to them most plausible, and most likely to be attended with success:

for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel; for so it was to Absalom and his party the best and wisest that could be given them; but it was the Lord's will it should be defeated, and therefore the minds of Absalom and of the elders of Israel were blinded:

to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom; his person and cause; that his cause might be ruined, and he himself slain in battle; see Proverbs 19:21.


 
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