Study it in the app“Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For YHWH had commanded to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that YHWH might bring the evil on Absalom.”
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםand allוְכָלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“The counselעֲצַתof Hushaiחוּשַׁיthe Architeהָאַרְכִּיis betterטוֹבָהthan the counselמֵעֲצַתof Ahithophel.”אֲחִיתֹפֶלFor YHWHוַיהוָהhad commandedצִוָּהto thwartלְהָפֵרthe goodהַטּוֹבָהcounselעֲצַתof Ahithophel,אֲחִיתֹפֶלso thatלְבַעֲבוּרYHWHיְהוָהmight bringהָבִיאthe evilהָרָעָהonאֶלAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Absalom
Absalom: third son of David, born of Maacah; he rebelled against his father (2 Samuel 13–18). The name, also written in a longer form (Abishalom), means "father of peace"; it is borne also by the father of Maacah, Rehoboam's wife.
Where else “avshalom” appearsman
An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.
Where else “ish” appearsIsrael
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appearssay
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appearscounsel
What is said to someone to help him decide what to do.
Where else “atsat” appearsHushai
Hushai: the Archite, David's companion, who pretended to serve Absalom in order to undo Ahithophel's counsel (2 Samuel 15–17). Baana, Solomon's officer, is called son of Hushai (1 Kings 4:16).
Where else “chushay” appearsArchite
Archite: a clan that lived on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin; Hushai, David's friend, belonged to it (2 Samuel 15:32).
Where else “arki” appearsbetter
Worth more or more profitable than something it is compared with.
Where else “tova” appearsAhithophel
Ahithophel, a counselor of David from Giloh who went over to Absalom in his rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17). His advice was held to be as sure as a word from God (2 Samuel 16:23).
Where else “achitofel” appearsYHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yhva” appearscommand
To give an order: "as YHWH had commanded".
Where else “tsiva” appearsannul
To void a covenant or vow; spoil a plan.
Where else “hafer” appearsbring
To bring something or someone.
Where else “havi” appearsharm
Something that hurts, a disaster.
Where else “raa” appears“Good counsel”: it can be understood as good for the end Absalom was seeking. Compare David’s prayer in 15:31.
13And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it to the wadi, until not even a pebble is found there.”
14 · This verse (above)
15Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Such and such Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and such and such I have counseled.
