2 samuel 15:35 - Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Generated Verse: 2 samuel 15:35

What does "2 samuel 15:35" mean?


This verse, 2 Samuel 15:35, is part of a larger strategy developed by David's advisor, Hushai, to undermine the rebellion of Absalom and Ahithophel. Let's break down the verse's meaning within that context:

Context: Absalom, David's son, has staged a rebellion and taken over Jerusalem. David flees, and he sends Hushai back to the city as a "double agent" to counter Ahithophel's wise (but dangerous) counsel.

"Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you?": Hushai is instructing his fellow agent (implied, likely a trusted messenger). Zadok and Abiathar were the high priests loyal to David. They remained in Jerusalem, ostensibly supporting Absalom, but secretly working for David. The point is that the trusted person in Absalom's court is in position to communicate with them secretly.

"Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.": This is the core instruction. Hushai is telling his associate to relay any information he overhears within Absalom's court—Absalom's plans, Ahithophel's advice, any critical decisions—to Zadok and Abiathar.

In essence, the verse means:

"You are in a position to hear what's happening in Absalom's inner circle. Your job is to secretly pass all that information on to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, who are David's loyalists within the city."

Purpose of the communication to the priests:

Intelligence Gathering: Zadok and Abiathar are the central points for receiving information. They can then relay it to David (who is in exile).
Strategic Advantage: David can use this information to anticipate Absalom's moves, counteract Ahithophel's strategies, and ultimately defeat the rebellion.
Communication Network: The priests serve as vital links in a secret communication network established by David to stay informed and control events, even while in exile.

In short, 2 Samuel 15:35 highlights a key element of David's counter-strategy: establishing a reliable intelligence network within Absalom's court to gather crucial information that could turn the tide of the rebellion. Hushai is enlisting a "mole" and giving very important instructions on how to communicate important information from within Absalom's court.

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