Shmuel II Perek 17

• Avshalom requested of both Achitophel and Chushai Ha’arki a plan to defeat Dovid.

• Achitophel’s plan was essentially to keep moving through the night and assemble a small group of soldiers to quickly go in and kill Dovid. Achitophel also wanted Avshalom to stay home and not risk being captured.

• Chushai’s plan was to gather a large army of Yisrael to “overturn every stone” to find King Dovid. Chushai also encouraged Avshalom to join his army in battle.

• Chushai persuaded Avshalom and the people by telling them that King Dovid was a master at war, he would surely be hiding in a remote place, and wouldn’t be easily found.

• Note: Chushai was a spy for King Dovid and wanted to buy Dovid time. The Navi relates how really Achitophel’s plan was the better plan, but Hashem was, behind the scenes, orchestrating Avshalom’s downfall.

• Chushai secretly told Tsadok and Avyasar (the two Kohanim who were also working as spies for King Dovid) to use their children, Yonason and Achima’atz, as runners to deliver the news to King Dovid.

• The two runners were spotted and were hidden in a well by “a woman from Bucharim.” (Note: this was the wife of Shimi Ben Gera.)

• Achitophel committed suicide after realizing that his advice was not going to be followed.

• King Dovid came to Machanaim.

• Avshalom appointed Amasa as his new general.

• The Barzilai family met King Dovid and his men with food, as they were famished from travel.