2 Samuel 17:17-29 ▼

17 Now Jonathan (YHWH has given) and Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) were staying at En-rogel (fount of the fuller), where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David (beloved), for they dared not be seen entering the city.

18 But a young man did see them and told Absalom (my father is peace). So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim (young men's village). He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

19 Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

20 When Absalom’s (my father is peace) servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) and Jonathan (YHWH has given)?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem (city of peace).

21 After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David (beloved), saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel (my brother is folly) has given this advice against you⁺.”

22 So David (beloved) and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan (flowing down). By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel (my brother is folly) saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 Then David (beloved) went to Mahanaim (two camps), and Absalom (my father is peace) crossed the Jordan (flowing down) with all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God).

25 Absalom (my father is peace) had appointed Amasa (burden) over the army in place of Joab (YHWH is father). Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra (Jether), the Ishmaelite [Israelite] who had married Abigail (Abigal), the daughter of Nahash (of Jesse) and sister of Zeruiah (balsam) the mother of Joab.

26 So the Israelites (God prevails) and Absalom (my father is peace) camped in the land of Gilead (rocky region).

27 When David (beloved) came to Mahanaim (two camps), he was met by Shobi (glorious) son of Nahash (serpent) from Rabbah (great) of the Ammonites (tribal), Machir (sold) son of Ammiel (my kinsman is God) from Lo-debar (nothing), and Barzillai (my iron) the Gileadite (rocky region) from Rogelim (place of fullers).

28 They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, [roasted seeds.]

29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David (beloved) and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”