2 Samuel 17:21
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.
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.
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.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
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
- 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.”
- KJV
- And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
- WEB
- After they had departed, they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
- ASV
- And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
- DARBY
- And it came to pass after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.
- BLB
- And it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and they went and told King David, and they said to David, “Arise and pass over the waters quickly, for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you⁺.”
- ÅB
- Men så snart de var gått bort, steg de andre opp av brønnen og gikk og bar budet fram til kong David og sa til ham: Gjør dere rede og sett hastig over vannet! For det og det råd har Akitofel gitt mot dere.
- OTB
- Etter at de hadde gått, kom mennene opp av brønnen, og gikk og fortalte kong David. De sa til David: "Reis deg og gå over vannet raskt, for slik har Akitofel rådet mot deg."
- B1930
- Men så snart de var gått bort, steg de andre op av brønnen og gikk og bar budet frem til kong David og sa til ham: Gjør eder rede og sett hastig over vannet! For det og det råd har Akitofel gitt mot eder.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Samuel 17:15–16
So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.
Read in context