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2 Samuel 17:20

AbsalomAhimaazJonathanJerusalem

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.

19 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.

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.”

22 So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

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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
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.
KJV
And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
WEB
Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
ASV
And Absalom`s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
DARBY
And Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. And they sought and could not find [them], and returned to Jerusalem.
BLB
And the servants of Absalom came to the woman at the house, and they said, “Where [are] Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And they searched and did not find, and they turned back to Jerusalem.
ÅB
Da så Absaloms tjenere kom inn i huset til konen og spurte: Hvor er Akima'as og Jonatan? svarte konen: De gikk over den lille bekken her. Så lette de etter dem, men fant dem ikke og vendte så tilbake til Jerusalem.
OTB
Da kom Absaloms tjenere til kvinnen i huset og sa: "Hvor er Ahimaas og Jonatan?" Kvinnen sa til dem: "De har krysset vannbekken." Og de lette og fant dem ikke, og vendte tilbake til Jerusalem.
B1930
Da så Absaloms tjenere kom inn i huset til konen og spurte: Hvor er Akima'as og Jonatan? svarte konen: De gikk over den lille bekken her. Så lette de efter dem, men fant dem ikke og vendte så tilbake til Jerusalem.

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 2:22–23

    So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road.

    Read in context

  • Joshua 2:3–5

    So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 27:11–12

    David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 21:2

    “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 15:34

    But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 19:12–17

    So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

    Read in context