Absalom and all the Israelites with him entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them. When Hushai, David’s trusted friend, met Absalom, he shouted, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
Absalom’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:7-11)… All of what follows is going to be about Hushai and his ability to exploit the character flaws in both Absalom and Ahithophel. Father, do examine me and test me (Psaume 139:23-24) in order that any flaws in me are not exploited by others!
“What has happened to your loyalty to your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why didn’t you go with him?”
Absalom sees the world in terms of loyalty – not in terms of what is true or false, nor in terms of what is right or wrong. That detail would not have been lost on Hushai…
Hushai answered, “How could I? I am for the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the Israelites. I will stay with you. After all, whom should I serve, if not my master’s son? As I served your father, so now I will serve you.”
Hushai plays one of his cards: flatter Absalom. It’s just what he wanted to hear: that he is the chosen one. Moreover, he would now be thinking that David his enemy would be deprived of council.
Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said, “Now that we are here, what do you advise us to do?”
Not now that I am here. Not now what I am to do. Absalom is hiding behind others! Moroever, he has always done so: his servants (2 Samuel 13:27-29), the fifty men (2 Samuel 15:1), the two hundred men (2 Samuel 15:11) as well as all the Israelites and Ahithophel here above. That will be THE card Hushai will play to exploit Absalom’s weakness… [Do I hide behind others, Father? Please continue to transform me.]
Ahithophel answered, “Go and have intercourse with your father’s concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace. Then everyone in Israel will know that your father regards you as his enemy, and your followers will be greatly encouraged.”
Ahitofel was in no way going to let Hushai upstage him! He was not sharing the stage with anyone. His ego – how he valued himself – was intrinsically tied to what he did (and that to an extreme). In all probability, Hushai just needed to thwart his council just once and he would crumble… [Lord, continually remind me that I am more than what I do, that I am more than whatever abilities I may or may not have.]
So they set up a tent for Absalom on the palace roof, and in the sight of everyone Absalom went in and had intercourse with his father’s concubines.
And so the punishment pronounced by Nathan the prophet comes to pass (2 Samuel 12:11-12). It’s worth noting that Houchai didn’t contradict Ahitofel here. Not only was it not a battle worth fighting, he needed to solidify his credibility with Absalom. May I select the battles I fight carefully, Lord – I want to fight (1 Corinthiens 9:23-26; 2 Corinthiens 10:3-5).