2 Samuel 17:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hushai argues that David is hidden and ready to ambush, so any early losses will spread panic that Absalom's troops are being slaughtered.
What Does 2 Samuel 17:9 Mean?
Hushai presses his case: David is surely concealed in some pit or stronghold, poised to strike. The first reverse, he warns, will be reported as a massacre, and rumor will magnify it until fear sweeps the ranks.
Hushai understands the power of perception in war, how a single setback can become a rout in the mind before it does on the field. His argument plays on Absalom's fear of looking weak. In all this maneuvering, the Lord is quietly granting David the gift He gives the desperate again and again: time, and a way of escape.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 17:9
What does 2 Samuel 17:9 mean?
Hushai argues that David is hidden and ready to ambush, so any early losses will spread panic that Absalom's troops are being slaughtered.