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2 Samuel 17:8

in 2 Samuel 17

He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Hushai said moreover, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

KJV

For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 17

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

But his dexterity was chiefly displayed in that part of his counsel which recommended a general levy throughout the country; and that Absalom should take command of it in person--thereby flattering at once the pride and ambition of the usurper. The bait was caught by the vainglorious and wicked prince.

This site's exposition

is not good at this time

on 2 Samuel 17:7-13

Hushai concedes what everyone in the room already knows, that Ahithophel's counsel has generally been sound, and stakes his objection only on this time, which gives his dissent the appearance of fairness rather than rivalry. His argument is picture and flattery together: David and his mighty men are a bear robbed of her whelps, too dangerous to be caught by surprise, so let Absalom instead gather all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and lead the host himself, as the sand of the sea for multitude. Every word plays to the young man's vanity and buys David the one thing Ahithophel's plan would have denied him, time.

This site's exposition

robbed of her cubs

Hushai's second claim answers Ahithophel point by point. A man of war from Saul's long pursuit would never spend the night with the troops, so a raid by night would miss the one man it was sent to strike down. Adam Clarke notes the fury of a wild bear robbed of her cubs, the same picture used at Proverbs 17:12 and Hosea 13:8.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

For (said Hushai) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

As a bear robbed of her whelps - All wild beasts are very furious when robbed of their young; but we have some remarkable instances of the maternal affection of the bear in such circumstances; see one at the end of the chapter.

The words behind it

24 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • חוּשַׁ֗יHushai

    chushaiH2365 →14 times

  • אַתָּ֣הyou

    ʾatahH859 →1094 times

  • יָ֠דַעְתָּyou know

    yada'taH3045 →945 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אָבִ֨יךָfather your

    ʾavikhaH1 →1212 times

  • וְאֶת־and <obj.>

    veetH853 →10935 times

  • אֲנָשָׁ֜יוmen his

    ʾanashavH582 →566 times

  • כִּ֧יthat

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • גִבֹּרִ֣ים[are] warriors

    giborimH1368 →158 times

  • הֵ֗מָּהthey

    hemahH1992 →553 times

  • וּמָרֵ֥יand [are] bitter of

    umareiH4751 →

  • נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙soul

    nefeshH5315 →754 times

  • הֵ֔מָּהthey

    hemahH1992 →553 times

  • כְּדֹ֥בlike a bear

    kedoH1677 →

  • שַׁכּ֖וּלrobbed of cubs

    shakulH7909 →

  • בַּשָּׂדֶ֑הin the field

    basadehH7704 →334 times

  • וְאָבִ֙יךָ֙and father your

    veavikhaH1 →1212 times

  • אִ֣ישׁ[is] a man of

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • מִלְחָמָ֔הwar

    milchamahH4421 →320 times

  • וְלֹ֥אand not

    velo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יָלִ֖יןhe will pass [the] night

    yalinH3885 →84 times

  • אֶת־with

    ʾet-H854 →929 times

  • הָעָֽם׃the people

    haamH5971 →1873 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hosea 13:8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.6 works1 Samuel 30:6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.6 worksProverbs 17:12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.5 works1 Samuel 16:18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”4 works2 Kings 2:24Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.4 worksDaniel 7:5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Hebrews 11:32–34And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,3 works2 Samuel 23:8–9These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.2 worksJudges 18:25The Danites said to him, “Do not raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”2 works1 Chronicles 11:25–47He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.2 works2 Samuel 23:18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.2 works1 Samuel 17:34–36David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,2 works2 Samuel 15:18and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.2 works2 Samuel 21:18–22Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.2 worksProverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.2 works1 Samuel 23:23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”2 works2 Samuel 23:20–22And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.2 works1 Samuel 17:50Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Proverbs 17:12

    It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

    it leads to

    • Hosea 13:8

      Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 16:18

    One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 3:19

      And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

    • Genesis 39:23

      The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

    • 1 Samuel 17:32–36

      And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”

    • Genesis 39:2

      And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

    • 1 Samuel 10:7

      When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.

  • Through

    Daniel 7:5

    Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get…

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 2:24

      Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Proverbs 17:12

      It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 17 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 17 →