2 Samuel 17:14

“And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, etc.] That is, the elders, who before approved of the counsel of Ahithophel, (<101704>2 Samuel 17:4); the counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel; it appeared to them most plausible, and most likely to be attended with success: for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel; for so it was to Absalom and his party the best and wisest that could be given them; but it was the Lord’s will it should be defeated, and therefore the minds of Absalom and of the elders of Israel were blinded: to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom; his person and cause; that his cause might be ruined,…”

“The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel--The reasons specified being extremely plausible, and expressed in the strong hyperbolical language suited to dazzle an Oriental imagination, the council declared in favor of Hushai's advice; and their resolution was the immediate cause of the discomfiture of the rebellion, although the council itself was only a link in the chain of causation held by the controlling hand of the Lord.”

“Absalom and all, &c. - Be it observed, to the comfort of all that fear God, he turns all mans hearts as the rivers of water. He stands in the congregation of the mighty, has an over - ruling hand in all counsels, and a negative voice in all resolves, and laughs at mens projects against his children. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:16”

“17:14 Ahithophel’s strategy was actually better. However, Hushai had the psychological and rhetorical advantage as well as the Lord’s purpose, so he won Absalom’s favor. • the Lord had determined to defeat: Despite early advances, Absalom’s power grab was doomed from the start.”

“the Lord: Sa2 15:31; Gen 32:28; Exo 9:16; Deu 2:30; Ch2 25:16, Ch2 25:20 appointed: Heb. commanded, Psa 33:9, Psa 33:10; Lam 3:37; Amo 9:3 to defeat: Sa2 15:34, Sa2 16:23; Job 5:12-14; Pro 19:21, Pro 21:30; Isa 8:10; Co1 1:19, Co1 1:20; Co1 3:19 good counsel: Luk 16:8 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:15”

“And he secured his end. Absalom and all Israel thought his advice better than that of Ahithophel; for it was intended to commend itself to Absalom and his supporters. "The counsel appeared safe; at the same time it was full of a certain kind of boasting, which pleased the younger men" (Clericus). All that Hushai had said about the bravery and heroism of David and his followers, was well founded. The deception lay in the assumption that all the people from Dan to Beersheba would crowd around Absalom as one man; whereas it might easily be foreseen, that after the first excitement of the revolution was over, and great calmness ensued, a large part of the nation and army would gather round…”