John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 17:10

"And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men." — 2 Samuel 17:10 (ASV)

And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart is as the heart of
a lion, shall utterly melt
That is, whoever should hear of Absalom's forces, or a part of them, being routed, would be intimidated, though ever so courageous, or of such a lion-like temper and disposition; and even Ahithophel himself, notwithstanding all his boasted courage, his heart would fail, he would melt like water ^F8 , (Joshua 7:5); should he meet with such a rebuff at first setting out. A lion is well known for its courage as well as strength, and has not only a fierce countenance, hence we read of lion-like men in their faces, (2 Samuel 23:20) (1 Chronicles 12:8); but has a courageous heart, and from thence it is thought to have its name Labi, from "leb", which signifies the heart; so Hercules is represented by the poet as having a lion's heart {i}, and others also; though Leo Africanus ^F11 relates of some lions in Africa that are so naturally fearful that they will flee at the cry of children, particularly at a place called Agla; hence it became a proverb with the inhabitants of Fez to call blustering cowards the lions of Agla; and he speaks of great numbers of lions elsewhere ^F12 , who are easily driven away with a small stick by the most timorous persons; but for the most part lions are very bold and daring, as well as strong, to which the allusion is here. Some apply this to David himself, who was a valiant man, and whose heart was like that of a lion, and so read the last clause with an interrogation: "shall he utterly melt?" no, he will not; he is not to be made afraid so easily as Ahithophel has intimated:

for all Israel knoweth that your father [is] a mighty man, and [they]
which be with him [are] valiant men :
this is so universally known that it cannot be denied.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (----hute leibeai udwr) , Moschi Idyll 2. ver. 45.
• F11: Descriptio Africae, l. 3. p. 400.
• F12: Ib. p. 474.