15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests , "This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel , and this is what I have counseled . 16 "Now therefore, send quickly and tell David , saying , ' Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness , but by all e means cross over , or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed .' " 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel , and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David , for they could not be seen entering the city . 18 But a lad did see them and told Absalom ; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim , who had a well in his courtyard , and they went down into it. 19 And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing e was known . 20 Then Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said , "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ?" And the woman said to them, "They have crossed the brook of water ." And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem . 21 It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David ; and they said to David , " Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you."
22 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan ; and by dawn e not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan . 23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed , he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home , to his city , and set his house in order , and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father . 24 Then David came to Mahanaim . And Absalom crossed the Jordan , he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab . Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite , who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash , sister of Zeruiah , Joab's mother . 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead . 27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim , Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon , Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar , and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim , 28 brought beds , basins , pottery , wheat , barley , flour , parched grain, beans , lentils , parched seeds, 29 honey , curds , sheep , and cheese of the herd , for David and for the people who were with him, to eat ; for they said , "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:15-29
Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:1-21
(Read 2 Samuel 17:1-21)
Here was a wonderful effect of Divine Providence blinding Absalom's mind and influencing his heart, that he could not rest in Ahithophel's counsel, and that he should desire Hushai's advice. But there is no contending with that God who can arm a man against himself, and destroy him by his own mistakes and passions. Ahithophel's former counsel was followed, for God intended to correct David; but his latter counsel was not followed, for God meant not to destroy him. He can overrule all counsels. Whatever wisdom or help any man employs or affords, the success is from God alone, who will not let his people perish.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:22-29
(Read 2 Samuel 17:22-29)
Ahithophel hanged himself for vexation that his counsel was not followed. That will break a proud man's heart which will not break a humble man's sleep. He thought himself in danger, concluding, that, because his counsel was not followed, Absalom's cause would fail; and to prevent a possible public execution, he does justice upon himself. Thus the breath is stopped, and the head laid low, from which nothing could be expected but mischief. Absalom chased his father. But observe how God sometimes makes up to his people that comfort from strangers, which they are disappointed of in their own families. Our King needs not our help; but he assures us, that what we do for the least of his brethren, who are sick, poor, and destitute, shall be accepted and recompensed as if done to himself