Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt,.... That is, whoever should hear of Absalom's forces, or a part of them, being routed, would be intimidated, though ever so courageous, or of such a lion-like temper and disposition; and even Ahithophel himself, notwithstanding all his boasted courage, his heart would fail, he would melt like water^F8 ηυτε λειβεαι υδωρ, Moschi Idyll 2. ver. 45. , Joshua 7:5; should he meet with such a rebuff at first setting out. A lion is well known for its courage as well as strength, and has not only a fierce countenance, hence we read of lion-like men in their faces, 2 Samuel 23:20; but has a courageous heart, and from thence it is thought to have its name Labi, from "leb", which signifies the heart; so Hercules is represented by the poet as having a lion's heart^F9 θυμολεοντα Homer. Iliad. 5. ver 639. Iliad. 7. ver. 228. Odyss. 11. ver. 279. Vid. Hesiod. Theogoniam prope finem. , and others also; though Leo Africanus^F11Descriptio Africae, l. 3. p. 400. relates of some lions in Africa that are so naturally fearful that they will flee at the cry of children, particularly at a place called Agla; hence it became a proverb with the inhabitants of Fez to call blustering cowards the lions of Agla; and he speaks of great numbers of lions elsewhere^F12Ib. p. 474. , who are easily driven away with a small stick by the most timorous persons; but for the most part lions are very bold and daring, as well as strong, to which the allusion is here. Some apply this to David himself, who was a valiant man, and whose heart was like that of a lion, and so read the last clause with an interrogation: "shall he utterly melt?" no, he will not; he is not to be made afraid so easily as Ahithophel has intimated:

for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men: this is so universally known that it cannot be denied.

Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

“And even if he (the hearer, 2 Samuel 17:9) be a brave man, who has a lion's heart (lion-like courage), he will be thrown into despair; for all Israel knows that thy father is a hero, and brave men (are those) who are with him.”

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 17:10 And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant men.

Ver. 10. Whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt.] Falling asunder in his bosom like drops of water. See Joshua 2:11. Those seeming lions shall become as harts and stags, that have great horns and strength, but do nothing with them, quia deest animus, through want of courage.

That thy father is a mighty man, &c.] This he repeateth as his chief argument, for he knew that he spake to a carpet knight.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The known fame of the prodigious valour of David and his followers will easily gain credit to that report, and strike the stoutest of our men with dread, even Ahithophel himself, if he should go with them.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Man. Hebrew, "the son of valour himself." Achitophel, or any other. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

valiant men = sons of valour.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

heart

1:23; 23:20; Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:8,9; Proverbs 28:1

utterly melt

Exodus 15:15; Deuteronomy 1:28; Joshua 2:9-11; Isaiah 13:7; 19:1

thy father

1 Samuel 18:17; Hebrews 11:34

and they which

Song of Solomon 3:7