Old Testament

New Testament

2 Samuel 17:16-28 Modern English Version (MEV)

16. Now quickly send someone to report to David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but instead cross over. Otherwise, the king and all of the people who are with him will be swallowed up.’ ”

17. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. A servant girl would go report to them, and they would go report to King David, because they could not be seen entering the city.

18. But a young man saw them and reported this to Absalom. So the two of them went quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.

19. The wife took a covering and spread it over the opening of the well. Then she scattered grain over it so that nothing could be discerned.

20. The servants of Absalom came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”She said, “They crossed over the brook of water.” When they searched, they could not find them. So they returned to Jerusalem.

21. After they left, they came up from the well, went, and reported to King David. They said to David, “Arise and quickly cross over the water because thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”

22. So David and all of the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak, there was not one left who had not crossed over the Jordan.

23. When Ahithophel realized that his advice was not followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his own city. He gave instruction to his household, then he hanged himself and died; he was interred in the tomb of his father.

24. David came to Mahanaim as Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and every Israelite with him.

25. Now Absalom had placed Amasa over the army in the place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab.

26. Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27. When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim

28. brought bedding, metal bowls, ceramic vessels, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,

Read complete chapter 2 Samuel 17