2 Samuel 17:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, "Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you."

NIV: 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."

NASB: It 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, 'Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.'

CSB: After 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."

NLT: Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. 'Quick!' they told him, 'cross the Jordan tonight!' And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.

KJV: And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

NKJV: Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”

Absalom is strategic, patient, and careful. He waited two years to murder his brother (2 Samuel 13:23–29). He worked for four years to win the people's hearts before he declared himself king and forced David into exile (2 Samuel 15:1–11). He recruited David's trusted advisor Ahithophel to help him keep the kingdom he's trying to usurp (2 Samuel 15:12; 16:20–23).

David is strategic, as well. In just one day, he has created a network of spies and informants, including two priests, their sons, and an old friend (2 Samuel 15:24–29, 32–37).

David's friend Hushai was there when Absalom's Ahithophel suggested immediately chasing down David and his people (2 Samuel 17:1–4). Hushai convinced Absalom to wait—taking advantage of his preference for slow, thoughtful action—so David had more time to regroup. The priests sent a servant woman to tell their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz. A young man saw them, and Absalom sent guards to track the men down. Thanks to another woman, they escaped by hiding in a well (2 Samuel 17:5–13, 15–20).

The woman has misled the guards, and Jonathan and Ahimaaz crawl out of the well. They resume their trek to David, waiting on the near side of the Jordan River with his servants, and tell him Hushai's message that Absalom is preparing an army; they need to get cross the river and get to safety. By the next morning, David's people are safe (2 Samuel 17:22).

David and his people aren't safe because Hushai is a better advisor than Ahithophel. Nor is it because the priests and their sons are particularly loyal and clever. They're safe because God is for David and against Absalom (2 Samuel 17:14). When Ahithophel learns that Absalom took Hushai's advice and not his, he seems to understand this. He goes home, puts his house in order, and hangs himself (2 Samuel 17:23).

Second Samuel 17:21–23 is Ahithophel's sad realization that he's not as wise as he thought he was. He joined Absalom's rebellion against David. Almost immediately, his superb strategy was foiled by David's friend Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1–14). Because of that error, David and his people are now safe from Absalom across the Jordan River. Ahithophel knows David will succeed, and that his own time is short. Ahithophel takes matters into his own hands and kills himself. Meanwhile, David's people reach the eastern border of Israel, where local leaders meet them with everything they need to recover from their frantic flight (2 Samuel 17:27–29).

David's cunning plan to thwart Absalom works. David enlisted Hushai's help to counter Ahithophel's advice (2 Samuel 15:31–37). Ahithophel wants to take a small force and move immediately to kill only David while he is still fleeing. Hushai suggests they wait, gather a larger army, and destroy David's men. Absalom agrees with Hushai. Hushai sends warnings through the priests and their sons, and David and his people safely cross the Jordan River. As Absalom reaches the Jordan, local leaders care for the exiles. David's army has time to get organized and prepare for battle (2 Samuel 18:1–15).

God's prior instruments of judgment see justice done to themselves. Absalom and Ahithophel rebelled against David, but now God's curses against David are complete (2 Samuel 12:9–13; 16:13, 20–23). The advisor Ahithophel watches helplessly as David's spy Hushai undermines his authority. Seeing the end, Ahithophel kills himself. Hushai helps David and his people to flee to safety. David has time to organize his fighting forces and send them into battle. In one day, they defeat Absalom's army. Against David's will, they also kill Absalom (2 Samuel 18:1–15). Now, David must do the hard work of reconciling the nation.