2 Samuel 17:7

This time. Heb. bepa‘am hazzo’th, literally, “this once.” This is not a temporal phrase, as though Hushai said that the counsel was not good at this time but might be at another time. He meant, “in this instance the counsel of Ahithophel is not good.” Hushai did not wish to make it appear that he was at variance with Ahithophel and that he was purposely making a contrary proposal. He recognized the fact that Ahithophel was a wise counselor whose suggestions were usually of the highest value. In this instance, however, he ventured to suggest, Ahithophel’s counsel was not wise.