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16 “Send a message to David now! Tell him not to spend the night at the places where people cross into the desert. Tell him to go across the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, the king and all his people will not be caught.”

17 The priests’ sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, did not want to be seen going into the town, so they waited at En Rogel. A servant girl went out to them and gave them the message. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz carried the message to King David.

18 But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and ran to tell Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They arrived at a man’s house in Bahurim. The man had a well in his courtyard.[a] Jonathan and Ahimaaz went down into this well.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:18 courtyard An open area outside the house. Many houses were built around courtyards so that people could work, cook, or eat outside.

16 Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;(A) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.(B)’”

17 Jonathan(C) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.(D) A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.(E) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

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