Ahithophel, Hushai, and Shimei
…of Ahithophel” (2 Samuel 15:31). “Scatter,” he says, “the counsel of Ahithophel, O Lord my God.” For Ahithophel was deep, bitter and full of schemes, able to find a way in every matter, and on top of this a most skilled general. So David feared Ahithophel most of all, because he always put forward bitter counsels and knew how to command an army.
“And behold, Hushai came to meet him” (2 Samuel 15:32). He persuades Hushai, who was one of his own friends, to feign desertion from him and a wish to be taken into Absalom’s service, so that he might secretly fight against the counsels of Ahithophel; and that is just what happened.
“And thus Shimei said as he cursed him” (2 Samuel 16:7). Though Shimei insulted him and all but hurled bitter words at him as from a sling, he went away having suffered nothing from David at that time, even though afterward he paid a harsh penalty that he deserved (1 Kings 2:44–46). The point is that David endured, and though many urged him on, he counted silence worth everything, out of very great and admirable understanding.
For he reasoned that, because he had offended God, he had in some way been given over to scourges, and he counted the reproaches, taunts and laughter of certain people as part of the blow. For where there is turning away and abandonment by God, even if it falls on someone only in moderate degree, there, without doubt, will be many bitter things of the kind that bring deep grief.
Greek
Ἀχιτόφελ. {Κυρίλλου.} ∆ιασκέδασον, φησὶ, τὴν βουλὴν Ἀχιτόφελ, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου. Ἦν γὰρ ὁ Ἀχιτόφελ βαθὺς καὶ πικρὸς καὶ πολυγνώμων, καὶ ὁδοὺς ἀνευρεῖν ἱκανὸς ἐφ' ἑκάστῳ πράγματι, καὶ πρός γε τοῦτο στρατηγικώτατος. Ἐδεδίει τοίνυν μάλιστα τῶν ἄλλων τὸν Ἀχιτόφελ, διὰ τὸ πικρὰς εἰσφέρειν ἀεὶ γνώμας, καὶ τὸ εἰδέναι στρατηγεῖν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῷ Χουσί. {Κυρίλλου.} Ἔνα ὑπάρχοντα τῶν ἑαυτοῦ φίλων τὸν Χουσὶ, πείθει προσποιήσασθαι τὴν ἀπόστασιν τὴν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ προσκεκλῆσθαι θέλειν τὸν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ, ἵνα ταῖς τοῦ Ἀχιτόφελ λεληθότως μάχηται συμβουλαῖς ὃ δὴ καὶ γέγονεν. Καὶ οὔτως ἔλεγε Σεμεῖ ἐν τῷ καταρᾶσθαι αὐτόν. {Κυρίλλου.} Ὑβρίσας Σεμεῒ καὶ πικραῖς αὐτὸν μονονουχὶ κατασφενδονήσας φωναῖς, οὐδὲν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τῷ τηνικάδε παθὼν ἀπηλλάττετο· εἰ καὶ δυσχερεῖς μετὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὰς αὐτῷ πρεπούσας ἐκτέτικε δίκας· πλὴν ὅτι διεκαρτέρησεν ὁ ∆αβὶδ, καὶ παρατρυνόντων αὐτὸν πολλῶν, τοῦ παντὸς ἀξίαν ἡγεῖτο τὴν σιωπὴν, ἐκ πολλῆς ἄγαν καὶ ἀξιαγάστου συνέσεως. 2 Ἐνενόει γὰρ ὅτι διά τοι τοῦ προσκεκροῦσθαι Θεῷ, δέδοταί πως εἰς μάστιγας, καὶ μοῖραν εἶναι κατελογίζετο τῆς πληγῆς, τοὺς παρά τινων ὀνειδισμοὺς τωθασμούς τε καὶ γέλωτας. Ἔνθα γὰρ ἀποστροφὴ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐγκατάλειψις, κἂν γοῦν ἡ μετρία γένοιτο κατά τινος, ἐκεῖ που πάντως ἔσται καταλυπεῖν εἰωθότα πολλὰ καὶ πικρά.