2 Samuel · Unlocked Literal Bible
2 Samuel 17 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.
2 I will come on him while he is weary and weak and will surprise him with fear. The people who are with him will flee, and I will attack only the king.
2 I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only,
3 I will bring back all the people to you, like a bride coming to her husband, and all the people will be at peace under you.”
3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace.”
4 What Ahithophel said pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
4 The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Arkite, too, and let us hear what he says.”
5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.”
6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom explained to him what Ahithophel had said and then asked Hushai, “Should we do what Ahithophel has said? If not, tell us what you advise.”
6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up.”
7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “The advice that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
7 Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
8 Hushai added, “You know your father and his men are strong warriors, and that they are bitter, and they are like a bear robbed of her cubs in a field. Your father is a man of war; he will not sleep with the army tonight.
8 Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Look, right now he is probably hidden in some pit or in some other place. It will happen that when some of your men have been killed at the beginning of an attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'A slaughter has taken place among the soldiers who follow Absalom.'
9 Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’
10 Then even the bravest soldiers, whose hearts are like the heart of a lion, will be afraid because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that the men who are with him are very strong.
10 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
11 So I advise you that all Israel should be gathered together to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as numerous as the sands that are by the sea, and that you go to battle in person.
11 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.
12 Then we will come on him wherever he may be found, and we will cover him as the dew falls on the ground. We will not leave even one of his men, or him himself, alive.
12 So we will come on him in some place where he will be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground, then we will not leave so much as one of him and of all the men who are with him.
13 If he retreats into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city and we will drag it into the river, until there is no longer even a small stone found there.”
13 Moreover, if he has gone into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn’t one small stone found there.”
14 Then Absalom and the men of Israel said, “Hushai the Arkite's advice is better than Ahithophel's.” Yahweh had ordained the rejection of Ahithophel's good advice in order to bring destruction on Absalom.
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel in such and such a way, but I have advised something else.
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way.
16 Now then, go quickly and report to David; say to him, 'Do not camp tonight at the fords of the Arabah, but by all means cross over, or the king will be swallowed up along with all the people who are with him.'”
16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’”
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at the spring of Rogel. A female servant used to go and inform them what they needed to know, for they could not risk being seen going into the city. When the message came, then they were to go and tell King David.
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and report to them, and they went and told King David; for they couldn’t risk being seen coming into the city.
18 But a young man saw them this time and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, into which they descended.
18 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.
19 The man's wife took the covering for the well and spread it over the well's opening, and tossed grain over it, so no one knew Jonathan and Ahimaaz were in the well.
19 The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known.
20 Absalom's men came to the woman of the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman told them, “They have crossed over the river.” So after they had looked around and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
20 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.
21 It came about after they had left that Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up out of the well. They went to report to King David; they said to him, “Get up and cross quickly over the water because Ahithophel has given such and such advice about you.”
21 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.”
22 Then David arose and all the people who were with him, and they crossed over the Jordan. By morning daylight not one of them had failed to cross over the Jordan.
22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and left. He went home to his own city, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. In this way he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home to his city, set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. As for Absalom, he crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether the Ishmaelite , who had slept with Abigail, who was the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab.
25 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26 Then Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
26 Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 It came about when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
27 When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28 brought sleeping mats and blankets, bowls and pots, and wheat, barley flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,
28 brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain,
29 honey, butter, sheep, and milk curds, so that David and the people with him could eat. These men had said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
29 honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Absalom
David's handsome son who avenged Tamar, rebelled against his father, and briefly seized the throne.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 15-18
Ahimaaz
Zadok's son, who with Jonathan son of Abiathar secretly carried word to David during Absalom's revolt and outran the Cushite to bring David news of the victory.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Samuel 15:36; 2 Samuel 17:17
Amasa
Son of Ithra and Abigail and a cousin of Joab, whom Absalom made army commander in Joab's place, whom David later offered Joab's command, and whom Joab killed with a dagger.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 17:25; 2 Samuel 19:13; 2 Samuel 20:4
Ammiel
Named as the father of Machir of Lo-debar.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 9:4; 2 Samuel 17:27
Barzillai
A very wealthy eighty-year-old Gileadite from Rogelim who provided for David at Mahanaim and, declining to go to Jerusalem, asked David to take Chimham in his place. Ezra 2:61 and…
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 17:27; 2 Samuel 19:31; 2 Samuel 19:32
David
The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.
Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6
Ithra
An Ishmaelite who married Abigail, sister of Zeruiah, and was the father of Amasa. 1 Kings 2:5 and 1 Chronicles 2:17 call him Jether.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Kings 2:5; 1 Kings 2:32
Jonathan
Son of the priest Abiathar, who with Ahimaaz carried messages to David during Absalom's revolt and hid in a well at Bahurim.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Samuel 15:36; 2 Samuel 17:17
Machir
Son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, in whose house Mephibosheth was staying, and who later brought supplies to David at Mahanaim.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 9:4; 2 Samuel 9:5; 2 Samuel 17:27
Nahash
Named in 2 Samuel 17:25 as the father of Abigail, the sister of Zeruiah; the text says no more about him.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 17:25
Shobi
Son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, who with Machir and Barzillai brought David beds, food and supplies at Mahanaim.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 17:27
Cross references (28)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Isaiah 59:7–8; Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 4:16; Psalm 3:3–5; Psalm 109:2–4
- 2 1 Kings 22:31; 2 Samuel 16:14; Matthew 26:31; Zechariah 13:7; John 11:50
- 3 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Isaiah 48:22; 2 Samuel 3:21; Isaiah 57:21
- 4 1 Samuel 23:21; Esther 5:14; 1 Samuel 18:20–21; Romans 1:32; Esther 1:21
- 5 2 Samuel 15:32–37; 2 Samuel 16:16–19
- 7 Proverbs 31:8
- 8 Hosea 13:8; 1 Samuel 16:18; Daniel 7:5; Hebrews 11:32–34; Proverbs 17:12
- 9 1 Samuel 14:14–15; 1 Samuel 22:1; Judges 20:32–33; 1 Samuel 24:3; Joshua 8:6
- 10 Joshua 2:9–11; 1 Samuel 18:17; Song of Songs 3:7; 2 Samuel 23:20; Isaiah 13:7
- 11 Genesis 22:17; Psalm 9:16; Judges 20:1; Joshua 11:4; Psalm 7:15–16
- 12 Isaiah 10:13–14; 2 Kings 18:23; 1 Kings 20:10; 2 Kings 19:24; 1 Samuel 23:23
- 13 Matthew 24:2; Micah 1:6
- 14 2 Samuel 15:34; 1 Corinthians 1:19–20; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 8:10; Job 5:12–14
- 15 2 Samuel 15:35–36
- 16 2 Samuel 15:28; 1 Corinthians 15:54; 2 Corinthians 5:4; Psalm 57:3; 2 Samuel 17:21–22
- 17 2 Samuel 15:36; Joshua 15:7; Joshua 18:16; 2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Kings 1:9
- 18 2 Samuel 3:16; 2 Samuel 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:16
- 19 Exodus 1:19; Joshua 2:4–24
- 20 Exodus 1:19; Joshua 2:22–23; Joshua 2:3–5; 1 Samuel 27:11–12; 1 Samuel 21:2
- 21 2 Samuel 17:15–16
- 22 Matthew 10:16; John 18:9; Proverbs 27:12; Numbers 31:49; 2 Samuel 17:24
- 23 Matthew 27:5; 2 Kings 20:1; 2 Samuel 15:12; 1 Kings 16:18; Psalm 5:10
- 24 Genesis 32:2; 2 Samuel 2:8; Joshua 13:26
- 25 2 Samuel 19:13; 1 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Samuel 20:9–12; 2 Samuel 20:4; 1 Chronicles 2:16–17
- 26 Numbers 32:1–42; Deuteronomy 3:15; Joshua 17:1
- 27 1 Kings 2:7; 2 Samuel 9:4; 2 Samuel 10:1–2; 1 Samuel 11:1; Ezra 2:61
- 28 1 Samuel 25:18; Obadiah 3; Isaiah 32:8; 2 Samuel 16:1–2
- 29 2 Samuel 16:2; 2 Samuel 16:14; Isaiah 21:14; Psalm 84:11; Luke 8:3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences