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Friday, December 19th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
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Read the Bible

Wycliffe Bible

2 Samuel 17:1

Therfor Achitofel seide to Absolon, Y schal chese twelue thousynde of men `to me, and Y schal rise, and pursue Dauid in this nyyt.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Citizens;   Council;   Diplomacy;   Friendship;   Malice;   Spies;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Absalom;   Ahithophel;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies of Israel, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Amasa;   Hushai;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Judas Iscariot;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Hushai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ahithophel;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahith'ophel;   Je'ther;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Absalom (1);   Choose;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight.
Hebrew Names Version
Moreover Achitofel said to Avshalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
King James Version
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
Lexham English Bible
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue after David tonight.
English Standard Version
Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
New Century Version
Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men and chase David tonight.
New English Translation
Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.
Amplified Bible
Then, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.
New American Standard Bible
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Moreouer Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me chuse out now twelue thousand men, & I will vp and follow after Dauid this night,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight.
Contemporary English Version
Ahithophel said to Absalom: Let me choose twelve thousand men and attack David tonight,
Complete Jewish Bible
Achitofel said to Avshalom, "Let me now choose 12,000 men, and I will pursue David tonight.
Darby Translation
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me, I pray, choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David to-night;
Easy-to-Read Version
Ahithophel also said to Absalom, "Now, let me choose 12,000 men to chase David tonight.
George Lamsa Translation
MOREOVER Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David this night;
Good News Translation
Not long after that, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and tonight I will set out after David.
Literal Translation
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and I shall rise up and pursue David tonight.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Achitophel sayde vnto Absalom: I wil chose out twolue thousande me, and wyl get me vp, and persue Dauid by nighte,
American Standard Version
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
Bible in Basic English
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me take out twelve thousand men and this very night I will go after David:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ahithophel also said vnto Absalom: Let me choose out now twelue thousand men, and I wil vp and folowe after Dauid this night:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom: 'Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;
King James Version (1611)
Moreouer Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Let mee nowe chuse out twelue thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after Dauid this night.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Achitophel said to Abessalom, Let me now choose out for myself twelve thousand men, and I will arise and follow after David this night:
English Revised Version
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
Berean Standard Bible
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
Young's Literal Translation
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, `Let me choose, I pray thee, twelve thousand men, and I arise and pursue after David to-night,
Update Bible Version
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;
World English Bible
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
New King James Version
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
New Living Translation
Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
New Life Bible
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will leave and go after David tonight.
New Revised Standard
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Ahithophel unto Absolom: I pray thee, let me choose for myself, twelve thousand men, and arise, and pursue David to-night;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achitophel said to Absalom: I will choose me twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night.
Revised Standard Version
Moreover Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.
THE MESSAGE
Next Ahithophel advised Absalom, "Let me handpick twelve thousand men and go after David tonight. I'll come on him when he's bone tired and take him by complete surprise. The whole army will run off and I'll kill only David. Then I'll bring the army back to you—a bride brought back to her husband! You're only after one man, after all. Then everyone will be together in peace!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight.

Contextual Overview

1 Therfor Achitofel seide to Absolon, Y schal chese twelue thousynde of men `to me, and Y schal rise, and pursue Dauid in this nyyt. 2 And Y schal falle on hym, for he is wery, and with vnboundun hondis Y schal smyte hym. And whanne al the puple fleeth which is with hym, Y schal smyte the kyng `desolat, ether left aloone. 3 And Y schal lede ayen al the puple, as o man is wont to turne ayen; for thou sekist o man, and al the puple schal be in pees. 4 And the word of him plesyde Absolon, and alle the grete men in birthe of Israel. 5 Forsothe Absolon seide, Clepe ye also Chusy of Arath, and here we what also he seith. 6 And whanne Chusi hadde come to Absolon, Absolon seide to hym. Achitofel spak siche a word; owen we do, ethir nay? what counsel yyuest thou? 7 And Chusi seide to Absolon, This is not good counsel, which Achitofel yaf in this tyme. 8 And eft Chusi seide, Thou knowist, that thi fadir, and the men that ben with him, ben moost stronge, and in bitter soule, as if a femal bere is fers in the forest, whanne the whelpis ben rauyschid; but also thi fader is a man werriour, and he schal not dwelle with the puple. 9 In hap now he is hid in the dichis, ethir in o place, in which he wole; and whanne ony man fallith in the bigynnyng, who euer schal here, he schal here, and schal seie, Wounde is maad in the puple that suede Absolon. 10 And ech strongeste man, whos herte is as `the herte of a lioun, schal be discoumfortid for drede; for al the puple of Israel knowith, that thi fadir is strong, and that alle men ben stronge, that ben with him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I will arise: Proverbs 1:16, Proverbs 4:16, Isaiah 59:7, Isaiah 59:8

this night: Psalms 3:3-5, Psalms 4:8, Psalms 109:2-4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom 2 Samuel 13:5 - Lay thee 2 Samuel 15:28 - General 2 Samuel 16:11 - seeketh 2 Samuel 17:21 - thus hath Ahithophel 2 Samuel 18:5 - Deal gently Esther 5:14 - the thing Psalms 31:13 - while Psalms 38:12 - lay snares Psalms 43:1 - the deceitful Psalms 55:9 - divide Psalms 55:10 - Day Psalms 71:4 - out of the Psalms 71:10 - take Psalms 86:14 - assemblies Psalms 109:16 - he remembered Psalms 118:13 - General Psalms 119:95 - wicked Psalms 144:11 - and deliver me Proverbs 12:6 - words Matthew 10:21 - the children 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though 1 Timothy 1:9 - murderers James 3:6 - a world

Cross-References

Genesis 5:22
And Enoth yede with God; and Enoth lyuede after that he gendride Matusalem thre hundrid yeer, and gendride sones and douytris.
Genesis 5:24
And Enoth yeed with God, and apperide not afterward, for God took hym awei.
Genesis 12:1
Forsothe the Lord seide to Abram, Go thou out of thi lond, and of thi kynrede, and of the hous of thi fadir, and come thou in to the lond which Y schal schewe to thee;
Genesis 12:7
Sotheli the Lord apperide to Abram, and seide to hym, Y schal yyue this lond to thi seed. And Abram bildide there an auter to the Lord, that apperide to hym.
Genesis 16:16
Abram was of `eiyti yeere and sixe, whanne Agar childide Ysmael to hym.
Genesis 18:1
Forsothe in the valei of Mambre the Lord apperide to Abraham, sittynge in the dore of his tabernacle, in thilke heete of the dai.
Genesis 18:14
whether ony thing is hard to God? Bi the biheeste Y schal turne ayen to thee in this same tyme, if Y lyue; and Sara schal haue a sone.
Genesis 28:3
Sotheli Almyyti God blesse thee, and make thee to encreesse, and multiplie thee, that thou be in to cumpanyes of puplis;
Genesis 35:11
Y am God Almyyti, encreesse thou, and be thou multiplied, folkis and puplis of naciouns schulen be of thee, kyngis schulen go out of thi leendis;
Genesis 48:15
and blesside his sone Joseph, and seide, God, in whos siyt my fadris Abraham and Isaac yeden; God, that fedith me fro my yong wexynge age til in to present day;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moreover, Ahithophel said unto Absalom,.... Either at the same time, or quickly after he had given the foregoing advice:

let me now choose out twelve thousand men: out of those that were with Absalom, which shows their number to be large; and twelve thousand are pitched upon with respect to the twelve tribes of Israel, a thousand from every tribe; Josephus has only ten thousand;

and I will arise and pursue after David this night; he took upon him to be general of the army, as well as a counsellor; or this he said to show how confident he was of the success of his counsel, that if Absalom, or any other, should decline the conduct of the army upon it, as a hazardous attempt, he would undertake it himself; or rather it may be, he was not willing that Absalom should go out in person with the army, not so much for his own safety, as lest through his affection for the king he should spare him, when he fell into his hands, or they two should be reconciled; he proposed to do it that night, partly for expedition, no time being to be lost, and partly for the greater surprise of David and his men.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This night - The night of the day on which David fled, and Absalom entered into Jerusalem. Ahithophel’s idea was to fall upon David by surprise, and in the first confusion of the surprised army to seize and kill David only.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XVII

Ahithophel counsels Absalom to pursue his father with twelve

thousand men, 14.

Hushai gives a different counsel, and is followed, 5-14.

Hushai informs Zadok and Abiathar; and they send word to David,

15-21.

David and his men go beyond Jordan, 22.

Ahithophel, finding his counsel slighted, goes home, sets his

house in order, and hangs himself, 23.

David moves to Mahanaim; and Absalom follows him over Jordan,

24-26.

Several friends meet David at Mahanaim with refreshments and

provisions, 27-29.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVII

Verse 2 Samuel 17:1. Let me now choose out twelve thousand men — Had this counsel been followed, David and his little troop would soon have been destroyed; nothing but the miraculous interposition of God could have saved them. Twelve thousand chosen troops coming against him, in his totally unprepared state, would have soon settled the business of the kingdom. Ahithophel well saw that, this advice neglected, all was lost.


 
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