2 Samuel 17:16

2 Samuel 17:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
• New International Version (NIV)Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore send quickly and tell David, 'Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”

Context of 2 Samuel 17:16

14Since the Lord had decreed that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” 15Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I advised. Now send someone quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the wilderness ford, but be sure to cross over the Jordan, or the king and all the people with him will be devoured.’” 17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city. 18However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

2 Samuel 17:16 word by word

וְעַתָּ֡ה שִׁלְח֣וּ מְהֵרָה֩ וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ לְדָוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר אַל־תָּ֤לֶן הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְגַ֖ם עָב֣וֹר תַּעֲב֑וֹר פֶּ֚ן יְבֻלַּ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now therefore sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• quicklyמְהֵרָהmehêrâh · hasteH4120
• and tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Lodgeלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
• not this nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• in the plainsעֲבָרָה‛ăbârâh · fordH5679
• in the plainsעֲרָבָה‛ărâbâh · plainH6160
• of the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• but speedilyעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• lest the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• be swallowed upבָּלַעbâla‛ · to swallow upH1104
• and all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:16

• 2 Samuel 15:28Remember, I’ll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
• 2 Samuel 17:21After they had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went and informed King David. They told him, “Get up and immediately ford the river, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
• 2 Samuel 15:14David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
• 1 Samuel 20:38Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s servant picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
• Psalms 55:8I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.”
• Proverbs 6:4Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
• Matthew 24:16“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
• 2 Samuel 20:19I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the Lord’s inheritance?”
• Psalms 35:25Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Just what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
• Psalms 56:2My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me.
• Psalms 57:3He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me.Selah God sends his faithful love and truth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:54When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
• 2 Corinthians 5:4Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Hushai, like a wise and prudent man, knowing, too, Absalom‘s weak and fickle character, would not depend upon the resolution, taken at his instigation, not to pursue the king, but took instant measures to advertise David of his danger.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. send quickly, and tell David--Apparently doubting that his advice would be followed, Hushai ordered secret intelligence to be conveyed to David of all that transpired, with an urgent recommendation to cross the Jordan without a moment's delay, lest Ahithophel's address and influence might produce a change on the prince's mind, and an immediate pursuit be determined on.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:16

• Abiathar
• Ahithophel
• Citizens
• Falsehood
• Friendship
• Gilead
• Loyalty
• Spies

In the dictionaries

• David
• Ahimaaz
• Ahithophel
• Desert
• Instead
• Prayer
• Bible, the
• Ford
• Israel, History of
• Joab

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings