2 Samuel 17:16
New International Version
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.’”

New Living Translation
“Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”

English Standard Version
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.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Now then, send a messenger quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the river crossing places of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.’”

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.’”

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be destroyed.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, send quickly and inform David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’”

Amplified Bible
Now then, send word quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords [on the west side of the Jordan] in the wilderness, but by all means cross over [to the east side of the river], or else the king and all the people with him will be destroyed [if Ahithophel is allowed by Absalom to lead an attack].’”

Christian Standard Bible
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.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now send someone quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the wilderness ford of the Jordan, but be sure to cross over, or the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.’”

American Standard Version
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Now send quickly and show David and say to him: ‘You should not lodge at night in the plain of the wilderness, but pass through yourself lest you be destroyed, you and all the people that are with you’”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now send quickly and report to David, saying, Lodge not this night in Araboth of the wilderness: even go and make haste, lest one swallow up the king, and all the people with him.

Contemporary English Version
Then he said, "Hurry! Send someone to warn David not to spend the night on this side of the Jordan. He must get across the river, so he and the others won't be wiped out!"

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying: Tarry not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but without delay pass over: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that is with him.

English Revised Version
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but in any wise pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now send messengers quickly to tell David, 'Don't rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert, but make sure you cross [the river], or Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.'"

Good News Translation
Hushai added, "Quick, now! Send a message to David not to spend the night at the river crossings in the wilderness, but to cross the Jordan at once, so that he and his men won't all be caught and killed."

International Standard Version
"Quick! Get word to David! Tell him not to spend the night at the crossings that lead to the desert. Instead, he must cross the Jordan River immediately. That way, if he crosses the river, the king and his entourage will survive."

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying: Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but in any wise pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.'

Literal Standard Version
and now, send quickly, and declare [it] to David, saying, Do not lodge in the plains of the wilderness tonight, and also, certainly pass over, lest there is a swallowing up of the king and of all the people who are with him.”

Majority Standard Bible
Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”

New American Bible
So send a warning to David immediately: ‘Do not spend the night at the fords near the wilderness, but cross over without fail. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.’ ”

NET Bible
Now send word quickly to David and warn him, "Don't spend the night at the fords of the desert tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed."

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over; otherwise the king and all the people who are with him will be swallowed up.’”

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, 'Do not lodge this night 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.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.’”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, send hastily, and declare to David, saying, Lodge not to-night in the plains of the wilderness, and also, certainly pass over, lest there be a swallowing up of the king and of all the people who are with him.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hushai's Warning Saves David
15So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. 16Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’” 17Now Jonathan 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, for they dared not be seen entering the city.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 15:28
See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."

2 Samuel 15:35
Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king's palace.

2 Samuel 17:21
After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, "Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you."


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Lodge

2 Samuel 15:28
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

but speedily

2 Samuel 17:21,22
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…

2 Samuel 15:14,28
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword…

1 Samuel 20:38
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

be swallowed

2 Samuel 20:19,20
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? …

Psalm 35:25
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

Psalm 56:2
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

Jump to Previous
Cross David Desert Destroyed Destruction Fords Immediately Lodge Means Message Night Night's Plains Quickly Rest River Speedily Spend Swallowed Tonight Waste Way Wilderness Wise
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Cross David Desert Destroyed Destruction Fords Immediately Lodge Means Message Night Night's Plains Quickly Rest River Speedily Spend Swallowed Tonight Waste Way Wilderness Wise
2 Samuel 17
1. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's
15. Secret intelligence is sent unto David
23. Ahithophel hangs himself
25. Amasa is made captain
27. David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions














(16) Lodge not this night.--Hushai's advice had been taken at the moment, but it might easily be exchanged for Ahithophel's. At all events there was instant danger for David, and Hushai urges him to place the Jordan without delay between himself and the rebels.

Verse 16. - Lodge not this night in the plains (at the fords) of the wilderness. The plan of Ahithophel made David's position so dangerous, that he must hesitate no longer, lest, on second thoughts, Absalom should still adopt it. Hushai had frustrated it for the present; but Ahithophel might urge it again, and get the necessary permission; and then David and all the people that were with him would be swallowed up, that is, destroyed utterly, and with ease.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְעַתָּ֡ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

send
שִׁלְח֣וּ (šil·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

quickly
מְהֵרָה֩ (mə·hê·rāh)
Adverb
Strong's 4120: A hurry, promptly

and tell
וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ (wə·hag·gî·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

David,
לְדָוִ֜ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

‘Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

spend
תָּ֤לֶן (tā·len)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

the night
הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ (hal·lay·lāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

at the fords
בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת (bə·‘ar·ḇō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 6160: Arabah -- a steppe or desert plain, also a desert valley running south from the Sea of Galilee

of the wilderness,
הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר (ham·miḏ·bār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

but
וְגַ֖ם (wə·ḡam)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

be sure to cross over.
עָב֣וֹר (‘ā·ḇō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

Otherwise
פֶּ֚ן (pen)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

the king
לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

and all
וּלְכָל־ (ū·lə·ḵāl-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

with him
אִתּֽוֹ׃ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

will be swallowed up.’”
יְבֻלַּ֣ע (yə·ḇul·la‘)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf


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OT History: 2 Samuel 17:16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:15
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