Definition: And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Samuel 17:14. It's a really important and complex passage about God’s plan and how He works in history. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where Absalom, a young king of Israel, was arguing with Hushai, a wise advisor. Absalom was saying he thought a different approach (Hushai's advice) would be better than the one given by someone else – a more experienced and cautious advisor. The message behind this argument was that God had specifically chosen to defeat Ahithophel, a flawed advisor, because He wanted to bring bad things upon Absalom. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “2 Samuel 17:14” : This is the specific verse we're focusing on – a part of the story in the Bible. “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said…” : This tells us who was involved - Absalom, the king, and everyone in Israel (the people of Israel). It’s describing a disagreement or debate. “…The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” : This is the core of the point. Hushai was considered wiser and more skilled than Ahithophel. He offered a better plan. The word "Archite" means architect, which refers to someone who designs and plans things. “For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel…” : This is crucial. God deliberately chose Hushai’s advice because He wanted to cause trouble for Absalom. It wasn't a random decision; it was guided by God's plan. “…to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.” : This explains why this happened. The goal of God through this event was to punish Absalom and make him suffer. In simpler terms: Absalom was arguing with a wise advisor, but God decided to use that disagreement to cause trouble for Absalom. The idea was that God wanted to bring bad things into Absalom's life, and the advisor’s advice was part of that plan. Important Note: It’s a complex story! This verse is often interpreted as a warning about the dangers of pride and self-reliance – urging people to rely on God's guidance rather than their own thoughts and plans. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this passage? Discuss what this verse might mean in a broader context (like the story of Israel’s history)? Give you some additional background information about Hushai and Ahithophel?