2 Samuel 17:2

“And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only.”

2 Samuel 17:2 is part of a larger narrative in the Old Testament that describes the conflict between King David and his son Absalom. Absalom had rebelled against his father and sought to take over the throne. In this verse, Ahithophel, one of David’s trusted advisors, proposes a plan to attack David and his loyal followers. The verse begins with Ahithophel saying, “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed.” Ahithophel recognizes that David and his men are likely tired and weakened from their escape and the journey they have been on. He sees an opportunity to strike while they are vulnerable, hoping to take advantage of their weakened state. Ahithophel continues, “and will make him afraid.” Here, Ahithophel intends to use psychological warfare to instill fear in David. By launching a surprise attack on David’s weary and vulnerable group, he hopes to intimidate the king and further weaken his resolve. The next part of the verse states, “and all the people that are with him shall flee.” Ahithophel anticipates that when David is attacked, his followers will panic and scatter. This scattering of David’s men would not only create chaos but also weaken David’s support and make him more vulnerable to the attack. Lastly, Ahithophel declares, “and I will smite the king only.” Ahithophel’s plan focuses on targeting King David directly. By eliminating David, he believes that the rebellion would effectively succeed. It suggests his confidence in his plan and his desire to end David’s reign.