tidings to David.

Although Absalom had followed Ahithophel's vile advice, by which no immediate danger was incurred, it

was another thing to take so decisive a step as to risk the flower of his army in a night attack upon David. If

Ahithophel had retired from the royal presence in the expectation of seeing his counsel immediately carried

out, he was soon to find himself disappointed. Hushai was next sent for, and consulted as to the measure

proposed by Ahithophel. It was easy for the old statesman to conjure up difficulties and dangers to one so

inexperienced and so irresolute as Absalom, and still more, by means of unlimited flattery, to turn one so

vain into another course. Absalom had only to speak, and all Israel would gather to him from Dan even to

Beer-sheba, - they would light upon David like the dew upon the grass; or if he fled into a city, why, cart -

ropes would suffice to drag it, to the smallest stone, into the nearest river! On the other hand, this was the

worst time for attacking David and his men when they were desperate. The idea of a night surprise was

altogether inadmissible, bearing in mind David's great experience in such warfare; while any mishap,

however small, would be fatal to Absalom's cause. We scarcely wonder, even taking the merely rational view

of it, that in such a council-chamber the advice of Hushai should have prevailed, although we recognize

none the less devoutly, the Hand of God in ordering all. There was one, however, who did not deceive

himself as to the consequences of this fatal mistake. Ahithophel knew, as if he had already witnessed it, that

from this hour Absalom's cause was lost. His own course was soon and decisively chosen. He returned to

his city, set his affairs in order, and, with the deliberate cynicism of a man who has lost all faith, committed

that rare crime in Israel, suicide. Typical as the history of David is throughout, we cannot fail to see here

also a terrible prefigurement of the end of him, who, having been the friend and companion of the Lord Jesus

- perhaps regarded as the "wise adviser" among the simple disciples - betrayed his Master, and, like

Ahithophel, ended by hanging himself (Matthew 27:5). Meanwhile, Hushai had communicated with the

priests in Jerusalem. His counsel had, indeed, been adopted; but it was impossible to know what one so

irresolute as Absalom might ultimately do. At any rate, it was necessary David should be informed, so as to

secure himself against a surprise. A trusty maidservant of the priest carried the message to the young men

by the "Fuller's Fountain." At the last moment their enterprise was almost defeated. A lad - probably one of

those stationed to watch any suspicious movement - noticed their hurried departure in the direction of

David's camp. Happily, the young men had observed the spy, and got the start of those sent after them. It

was not the first nor yet the last time that an Israelitish woman wrought deliverance for her people, when at

Bahurim the two young priests were successfully hidden in an empty well, and their pursuers led astray (2

Samuel 17:18-20). And here we gladly mark how different from the present inmates of Eastern harems were

the mothers, wives, and daughters of Israel, - how free in their social intercourse, and how powerful in their

influence, the religious and social institutions of the Old Testament forming in this respect also a

preparation for the position which the New Testament would assign to woman. But to return. Coming out of

their concealment, the two priests reached the encampment safely, and informed David of his danger. Ere the

morning light he and all his followers had put the Jordan between them and their enemies; and anything like

a surprise was henceforth impossible.

It all happened as Ahithophel had anticipated. The revolution now changed into a civil war, of which the

issue could not be doubtful. David and his forces fell back upon Mahanaim, "a strong city in a well-

provisioned country, with a mountainous district for retreat in case of need, and a warlike and friendly

population."  23

Here adherents soon gathered around him, while wealthy and influential heads of clans not only openly

declared in his favor, but supplied him with all necessaries. We are inclined to regard the three mentioned in

the sacred narrative (2 Samuel 17:27) as representative men; Shobi, of the extreme border-inhabitants, or

rather foreign tributaries (comp. 2 Samuel 10:2); Machir, of the former adherents of Saul; and Barzillai, of the

wealthy land-owners generally. With Absalom matters did not fare so well. Intrusting the command of his

army to a relative, Amasa, the natural son of one Ithra, an Ishmaelite,24 and of Abigail, David's stepsister.25

He crossed the Jordan to offer battle to his father's forces. These must have considerably increased since

his flight from Jerusalem (comp. 2 Samuel 18:1, 2), though, no doubt, they were still greatly inferior in number