Absalom and His Rebellion (11): David Ascends Mount Olivet (II Samuel 15:24-37) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. David's Supporters
II. David's Piety
III. David's Plan
A. W. Pink: “Various attempts have been made seeking to vindicate David for sending Hushai to become a spy for him in Absalom’s camp. Strategy may be permissible in warfare, but nothing could justify the king in causing Hushai to act and utter a lie. It is true that God overruled, and through Hushai defeated Ahithophel’s counsel, but that no more proves He approved of this deception, than did the flowing of water from the smitten rock show God’s approbation of Moses’ anger” (The Life of David, II:125).
William Blackburn on II Samuel 15:34: “The policy was shrewd and far-seeing, but the principle was not worthy of David. We see no way to defend it. It was proposing a deception, a strategy by fraud. The best that can be made of it is, that David thought the traitor deserved to be betrayed. He went on the principle of fighting Absalom with his own weapons. He would pay the prince in his own coin” (The Rebel Prince, pp. 163-164).