2 Samuel 17:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahithophel claims that once David alone is dead, all the people will return peacefully to Absalom.
What Does 2 Samuel 17:3 Mean?
Finishing his counsel, Ahithophel promises that the death of one man, David, will end the conflict and bring the whole nation back under Absalom in peace. Remove the shepherd, he reasons, and the flock comes home quietly.
There is a grim worldly logic here, the same logic that would later say it is expedient that one man die for the people. But peace bought by the blood of the innocent is no true peace. Real and lasting peace would come through a different King, who would lay down His own life rather than take another's, and so reconcile a scattered people to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 17:3
What does 2 Samuel 17:3 mean?
Ahithophel claims that once David alone is dead, all the people will return peacefully to Absalom.