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2 Samuel 17:19

Protection and safety

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.

18 But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.
KJV
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
WEB
The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known.
ASV
And the woman took and spread the covering over the well`s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.
DARBY
And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn on it; and the thing was not known.
BLB
And the woman took and spread a screen over the face of the well, and she spread over it grain, and the thing was known not.
ÅB
Og hans hustru tok og bredte et dekke over brønnen og strødde gryn ovenpå, så ingen kunne merke noe.
OTB
Kvinnen tok et dekke og bredte det over brønnens åpning og strødde korn på det, så ingenting ble kjent.
B1930
Og hans hustru tok og bredte et dekke over brønnen og strødde gryn ovenpå, så ingen kunde merke noget.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 1:19

    The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

    Read in context

  • Joshua 2:4–24

    But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

    Read in context