2 Samuel 17:16
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.’"
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.’ "
NASB
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.’?'
CSB
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.’"
NLT
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.'
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.
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.’ ”
What does 2 Samuel 17:16 mean?
Hushai is David's good friend who agreed to spy on David's son Absalom and counter Absalom's counselor Ahithophel's advice (2 Samuel 15:31–37). David and his people just left Jerusalem in fear of Absalom's followers (2 Samuel 15:13). Ahithophel wants to strike David immediately, before the people have recovered from their unexpected journey. Hushai has convinced Absalom to wait until he can conscript soldiers from the twelve tribes and lead a larger army into battle (2 Samuel 17:1–13).Hushai has bought David time, but he needs to send a warning that Absalom isn't going to let the exiles rest; they need to cross the Jordan and get to safety. As planned by David, he tells the faithful priests, Zadok and Abiathar (2 Samuel 15:35–36). The priests will tell a servant woman who will meet with their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz, in En Rogel. A young man will see them and report to Absalom. Absalom will send men to seek the spies out, but the priest's sons will hide in a well with the help of a woman. Absalom's guards will return to Jerusalem, and Jonathan and Ahimaaz will successfully warn David (2 Samuel 17:17–21).
Hushai loves colorful language. He told Absalom that David and his men were "as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs" (2 Samuel 17:8). He says that they are so dangerous that "even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear" (2 Samuel 17:10). The army Absalom builds should be so large—"as numerous as the sand on the seashore"—that he can fall on David's men "as dew settles on the ground" (2 Samuel 17:11–12). Now, he says David should run lest Absalom swallow his people up.
It's not Hushai's words that convinced Absalom, though. It was God and his intent to destroy Absalom and Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:14).
