2 Samuel 17:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it.

NIV: But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

NASB: But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.

CSB: However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

NLT: But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard.

KJV: Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

NKJV: Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.

David and his people are encamped on the near side of the Jordan River. Earlier that day, they heard Absalom was marching towards Jerusalem with his followers after declaring himself king. David's former counselor, Ahithophel, knows the importance of acting quickly. He wants a task force of troops to kill David and bring back his people before they have time to regroup. David's spy, Hushai, has convinced Absalom to wait and lead a larger army (2 Samuel 17:1–14).

Hushai is still concerned. He tells the priests Zadok and Abiathar, who had agreed to spy on Absalom (2 Samuel 15:24–29), to warn David to cross the river immediately. The priests send a servant woman to meet their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz, in En Rogel. Unfortunately, they're seen by a young man who races back to Jerusalem to tell Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz hurry to Bahurim and hide in a well. The woman whose husband owns the property puts the cover over it and scatters grain to make it look like it hasn't been disturbed in a while. When the guards ask her, she tells them the two men left. When the guards don't find them, they return to Jerusalem. Jonathan and Ahimaaz make it to David, and the people cross the river (2 Samuel 17:19–22).

Earlier that day, David and his people passed by Bahurim. The town is in Benjamin, the tribe of Saul. Saul's relative, Shimei, welcomed Absalom's rebellion. He cursed at David, claiming he had destroyed Saul and his family and stolen the crown. He threw rocks at David and his men as if they had committed a capital offense and deserved to be stoned (2 Samuel 16:5–8).

Abishai, one of David's generals, offered to remove Shimei's head, but David stopped him. David knew Absalom's coup was part of God's judgment on him for his sin against Uriah (2 Samuel 12:11). David suspected that Shimei's rage was part of that punishment, as well. He was resolved to submit to whatever burden God placed on him (2 Samuel 16:9–13).

Second Samuel 17:15–20 brings David's plan together. As he fled Absalom's marching followers, David told the priests to stay behind and send word of Absalom's plans. He then told Hushai to infiltrate Absalom's court and counter Ahithophel's counsel (2 Samuel 15:24–37). Hushai has discovered Absalom and Ahithophel's plans and altered them to give David more time (2 Samuel 17:1–14). The priests' sons get word to David, and David gets his people safely over the Jordan River (2 Samuel 17:21–29).

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.