2 Samuel 17:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Absalom 's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

NIV: When Absalom’s men came to the woman at the house, they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman answered them, "They crossed over the brook." The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

NASB: Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, 'Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' And the woman said to them, 'They have crossed the brook of water.' And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

CSB: Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" "They passed by toward the water," the woman replied to them. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

NLT: When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, 'Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' The woman replied, 'They were here, but they crossed over the brook.' Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.

KJV: And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

NKJV: And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

Apparently, David didn't understand that his son had planned to usurp the throne for years. Once he understands that Absalom and his men are marching on Jerusalem, David proves he's still capable in a crisis. While getting his people out of the city and mourning, he consistently needs to make strategic decisions. Some of his best moves are to leave the priests Abiathar and Zadok and his friend Hushai in Jerusalem as spies. He also wisely commissions Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the priests' sons, to bring him intelligence on Absalom's plans (2 Samuel 15).

Hushai soon sends word: David's former counselor Ahithophel has crossed sides and agreed to serve Absalom. He has advised an immediate seek-and-destroy mission to kill David. Hushai convinced Absalom to wait (2 Samuel 17:7, 14), but there's still little time. Jonathan and Ahimaaz are outside the city, at En Rogel. Zadok and Abiathar send a servant woman to give them the message. A young man sees them and goes to Jerusalem to inform Absalom. Absalom sends guards out to find Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but the two men hurry to Bahurim and, with the help of a local woman, hide in a well. She covers the well with a lid and grain to hide them and tells the guards that the men have left (2 Samuel 17:15–19).

Jonathan and Ahimaaz make it to David, and all the fleeing people get across the river by daybreak (2 Samuel 17:21–22). They continue east to Mahanaim, where the new king of Ammon and Absalom's former patron greet them with food and beds. As the people recover from their flight, David organizes their defense (2 Samuel 17:27–29; 18:1–2).

Scholars aren't sure what "crossed over the brook" refers to. We don't know if there was a nearby brook or if she meant they had gone toward the Jordan River.

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.