2 Samuel 17:17-29

171Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at 2En-rogel, and a female servant would go and inform them, and they would go and inform King David, for they could not allow themselves to be seen entering the city. 18But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man 3in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down 4into it. 19And 5the woman 6took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known. 20Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And 7the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21It came about after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, “8Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by 9dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.

23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been 10followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to 11his city, and 1213set his house in order, and 14hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.

24Then David came to 15Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25Absalom put 16Amasa 17in command of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was 18Ithra the Israelite, who 19had relations with Abigail the daughter of 20Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi 21the son of Nahash from 22Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, 23Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and 24Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28brought 25beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, roasted seeds, 29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, 26to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and exhausted and thirsty in the wilderness.”