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2 Samuel 17
1599 Geneva Bible

17 7 Ahithophel’s counsel is overthrown by Hushai.  14 The Lord had so ordained. 19 The Priest’s sons are hidden in the well. 22 David goeth over Jordan. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himself. 27 They bring victuals to David.

1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, [a]Let me choose out now twelve thousand men, and I will up and follow after David this night,

2 And I will come upon him: for he is weary, and weak handled: so I will fear him, and all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king only,

3 And I will bring again all the people unto thee, and when all shall return, ([b]the man whom thou seekest being slain) all the people shall be in peace.

4 And the saying [c]pleased Absalom well, and all the Elders of Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise [d]what he saith.

6 So when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath [e]spoken thus: shall we do after his saying, or no? tell thou.

7 Hushai then answered unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given, is not [f]good at this time.

8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father, and his men, that they be strong men, and are chafed in mind as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: also thy father is a valiant warrior, and will not [g]lodge with the people.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some cave, or in some place: and though some of them be overthrown at the first, yet the people shall hear, and say, The people that follow Absalom, [h]be overthrown.

10 Then he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall [i]shrink and faint: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is valiant, and they which be with him, stout men.

11 Therefore my counsel is, that all Israel be gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba as the sand of the Sea in number, and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

12 So shall we come upon him in some place, where we shall find him, and [j]we will upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of all the men that are with him, we will not leave him one.

13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all the men of Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

14 ¶ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite, is better, than the counsel of Ahithophel: for the Lord had [k]determined to destroy the [l]good counsel of Ahithophel, that the Lord might [m]bring evil upon Absalom.

15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the Priests, Of this and that manner did Ahithophel and the Elders of Israel counsel Absalom: and thus and thus have I counseled.

16 Now therefore send quickly, and show David, saying, Tarry not this night in the fields of the wilderness, but rather get thee [n]over, lest the king be devoured, and all the people that are with him.

17 ¶ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz abode by [o]En Rogel: (for they might not be seen to come into the city) and a maid went, and [p]told them, and they went and showed king David.

18 Nevertheless, a young man saw them, and told it to Absalom. Therefore they both departed quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, into the which they went down.

19 And [q]the wife took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon, that the thing should not be known.

20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the wife into the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman answered them, They be gone over the [r]brook of water. And when they had sought them, and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 And as soon as they were departed, the other came out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto him, Up, and get you quickly over the water: for [s]such counsel hath Ahithophel given against you.

22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they went over Jordan [t]until the dawning of the day, so that there lacked not one of them, that was not come over Jordan.

23 ¶ Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and he went home unto his city, and put his household in order, and [u]hanged himself, and died, and was buried in his father’s grave.

24 ¶ Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he, and all the men of Israel with him.

25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host in the stead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son named Jithra, an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of [v]Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.

26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

27 ¶ And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash out of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel out of Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogelim,

28 [w]Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched corn.

29 And they brought honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:1 The wicked are so greedy to execute their malice, that they leave none occasion, that may further the same.
  2. 2 Samuel 17:3 Meaning, David.
  3. 2 Samuel 17:4 Hebrew, was right in the eyes of Absalom.
  4. 2 Samuel 17:5 Hebrew, what is in his mouth.
  5. 2 Samuel 17:6 Or, given such counsel.
  6. 2 Samuel 17:7 Hushai showeth himself faithful to David, in that he reproveth this wicked counsel and purpose.
  7. 2 Samuel 17:8 Or, tarry all night.
  8. 2 Samuel 17:9 Hebrew, have a breach of ruin.
  9. 2 Samuel 17:10 Hebrew, melt.
  10. 2 Samuel 17:12 Or, we will camp against him.
  11. 2 Samuel 17:14 Or, commanded.
  12. 2 Samuel 17:14 That counsel which seemed good at the first to Absalom, verse 4.
  13. 2 Samuel 17:14 For by the counsel of Hushai, he went to the battle, where he was destroyed.
  14. 2 Samuel 17:16 That is, over Jordan.
  15. 2 Samuel 17:17 Or, the well of Rogel.
  16. 2 Samuel 17:17 Meaning, the message from their fathers.
  17. 2 Samuel 17:19 Thus God sendeth succor to his, in their greatest dangers.
  18. 2 Samuel 17:20 The Chaldea text readeth: Now they have passed the Jordan.
  19. 2 Samuel 17:21 To wit, to pursue thee with all haste.
  20. 2 Samuel 17:22 They traveled all night, and by morning had all their company passed over.
  21. 2 Samuel 17:23 God’s just vengeance even in this life is poured on them which are enemies, traitors, or persecutors of his Church.
  22. 2 Samuel 17:25 Who was also called Jesse David’s Father.
  23. 2 Samuel 17:28 God showeth himself most liberal to his, when they seem to be utterly destitute.
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2 Samuel 17
New International Version

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak.(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king(B) 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai(C) the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.(D) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;(E) he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.(F) If he should attack your troops first,[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,(G) will melt(H) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.(I)

11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba(J)—as numerous as the sand(K) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley(L) until not so much as a pebble is left.”

14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice(M) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”(N) For the Lord had determined to frustrate(O) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster(P) on Absalom.(Q)

15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16 Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;(R) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.(S)’”

17 Jonathan(T) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.(U) 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.(V) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.(W)

20 When Absalom’s men came to the woman(X) at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”[c] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice(Y) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order(Z) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Absalom’s Death

24 David went to Mahanaim,(AA) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa(AB) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,[d](AC) an Ishmaelite[e] who had married Abigail,[f] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash(AD) from Rabbah(AE) of the Ammonites, and Makir(AF) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai(AG) the Gileadite(AH) from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[g] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.(AI) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.(AJ)”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:1 Or Let me
  2. 2 Samuel 17:9 Or When some of the men fall at the first attack
  3. 2 Samuel 17:20 Or “They passed by the sheep pen toward the water.”
  4. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether
  5. 2 Samuel 17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite
  6. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail
  7. 2 Samuel 17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain
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