2 Samuel 17 16

2 Samuel 17:16 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.

2 Samuel 17:16 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.' "

2 Samuel 17:16 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.'?"

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.'"

2 Samuel 17:16 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."

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 16 Meaning

This verse conveys a critically urgent message from Hushai to King David, warning him not to delay at his current encampment in the wilderness near the Jordan River, but to immediately cross over to the other side. The purpose of this swift action is to prevent the imminent danger of David and all his followers from being ambushed and completely overwhelmed by Absalom's forces, based on the aggressive counsel of Ahithophel which Absalom initially favoured. It emphasizes the need for immediate, decisive action to avert utter destruction.

2 Samuel 17 16 Context

The immediate context is a critical moment in Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. David has fled Jerusalem (2 Sam 15), and Absalom has seized the throne. Hushai the Archite, a loyal friend of David, remained behind in Jerusalem at David's request to act as a counter-intelligence agent (2 Sam 15:32-37). Ahithophel, David's former trusted counselor who defected to Absalom, gave counsel to Absalom to immediately pursue David with a small, elite force under cover of darkness (2 Sam 17:1-4). This strategy was sound and would have decisively defeated David. However, Hushai cunningly presented a more appealing but strategically flawed counter-counsel to Absalom (2 Sam 17:7-13), advocating for a massive, full-scale mobilization, thus gaining time for David to escape. God, in His sovereign will, caused Absalom and all the elders of Israel to prefer Hushai's counsel over Ahithophel's (2 Sam 17:14), intending to bring disaster upon Absalom.

Having successfully bought David precious time, Hushai immediately recognizes that Ahithophel's counsel, though rejected, posed an imminent threat before Hushai's counter-plan could be fully implemented. Therefore, he urgently sends word to David in 2 Samuel 17:16, emphasizing the need for immediate departure from the dangerous wilderness encampment and crossing the Jordan, before Absalom could change his mind or launch an unexpected attack. The geographical setting, "fords of the wilderness," refers to the crossings of the Jordan River in the plains of Jericho, a strategic but exposed location for a refugee king.

2 Samuel 17 16 Word analysis

• Now therefore (וְעַתָּה - v'attah): A strong connective particle used to introduce a logical consequence or the next stage of action. It marks the transition from Hushai's successful deception of Absalom to the immediate practical implications for David. It signals a critical, turning point in the narrative.
• send quickly (שְׁלַח מְהֵרָה - sh'lach meherah):
  • send (שְׁלַח - sh'lach): Imperative verb, demanding immediate action.
  • quickly (מְהֵרָה - meherah): Adverb emphasizing extreme haste and urgency. There is no time to waste, signifying the acute danger. This reflects the life-and-death nature of the warning.
• and tell David (וְהַגִּידוּ לְדָוִד - v'haggidu l'David): The verb haggidu (from נגד - nagad) means to declare, announce, or tell, here in the Hiphil causative stem, meaning "cause to know" or "report." It indicates the relaying of vital information, not just casual talk.
• Do not lodge tonight (אַל תָּלִן הַלַּיְלָה - 'al talin halaylah):
  • Do not (אַל - 'al): Negative particle used with the imperfect tense to form a strong prohibition or warning against an immediate action.
  • lodge (תָּלִן - talin): From לוּן (lun), meaning to spend the night, to encamp, to stay. The prohibition against lodging highlights the extreme vulnerability of staying even for a single night. Delay is perilous.
  • tonight (הַלַּיְלָה - halaylah): Emphasizes the imminence of the threat; even a few hours' delay could be catastrophic.
• at the fords of the wilderness (בַּעֲרָבוֹת הַמִּדְבָּר - ba'aravot hamidbar):
  • fords (בַּעֲרָבוֹת - ba'aravot): Literally "in the plains/arid regions." Refers specifically to the "Aravah" region, the semi-arid plain of the Jordan Valley. It indicates a place where river crossings were possible but also exposed and potentially bottlenecked, making it a dangerous place to halt.
  • the wilderness (הַמִּדְבָּר - hamidbar): Refers to the wilderness area east of Jerusalem, extending to the Jordan River. This wilderness, though providing temporary refuge, was not a place of safety for prolonged stay.
• but by all means cross over (כִּי עָבוֹר תַּעֲבֹר - ki 'avor ta'avor): This is a powerful Hebrew grammatical construction using the infinitive absolute before the finite verb (עָבוֹר - avor [infinitive absolute] + תַּעֲבֹר - ta'avor [imperfect]). This construction intensifies the command, meaning "you shall certainly cross over," "you must cross over without fail." It leaves no room for hesitation or alternative action. It implies the crossing must be complete and decisive.
• lest the king (פֶּן יְבֻלַּע לַמֶּלֶךְ - pen y'vula' lammelech):
  • lest (פֶּן - pen): Connective indicating a negative purpose, "so that not," "otherwise," "for fear that."
  • be swallowed up (יְבֻלַּע - y'vula'): From בלע (bala') meaning "to swallow," "to consume," "to engulf," often with violent connotations of annihilation or destruction. Here, in the Pual (passive, intensive) form, it signifies being utterly destroyed, absorbed, or overwhelmed by a stronger force. This is not a literal swallowing but a vivid metaphor for utter defeat and annihilation of David and his forces.
  • the king (לַמֶּלֶךְ - lammelech): Specifically names David, emphasizing that his life and rule are at stake.
• and all the people who are with him (וּלְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ - ul'kol ha'am asher itto): Highlighting that the danger is not just to David, but to every single person accompanying him. This adds to the gravity and urgency of the warning, emphasizing the massive potential loss of life.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "send quickly and tell David, 'Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness": This entire phrase conveys a singular, urgent imperative. It's an order for immediate, specific action—communication and evasion of danger, specifically by not staying in a vulnerable spot. The danger is so present it threatens "tonight."
• "but by all means cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up": This defines the prescribed escape route and the dire consequence of failing to take it. The emphatic "by all means cross over" is directly tied to the survival of the king and his entire retinue, signifying that this one action is the absolute key to their preservation from annihilation. The powerful imagery of "swallowed up" paints a vivid picture of the total defeat Hushai foresees if David lingers.

2 Samuel 17 16 Bonus section

• The Messengers' Peril: The urgency and danger conveyed in verse 16 are vividly demonstrated in the next few verses (2 Sam 17:17-21). Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the sons of the priests, risk their lives, are seen, pursued, hide in a well, and rely on a woman's clever deception to ultimately deliver Hushai's vital message to David. Their journey underscores the sheer stakes involved in Hushai's warning.
• The Jordan River as a Boundary: In biblical narratives, crossing the Jordan River often symbolizes a transition from one state to another, from danger to safety, or from wilderness to promised land. In this context, for David, it represented moving from the immediate danger zone to a safer haven where he could regroup and gather forces, akin to Israel's transition into the promised land.
• Divine Intervention in "Good Counsel": Ahithophel's counsel in 2 Sam 17:1-4 was strategically "good" from a military standpoint, swift and decisive, which would have ended David's life. That God "ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel" (2 Sam 17:14) emphasizes divine sovereignty. Hushai's specific, urgent warning in verse 16 is the direct outworking of that divine intervention, translating God's will into concrete, life-saving action.

2 Samuel 17 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 17:16 is a pivotal verse, embodying the triumph of divine providence working through human agency. Hushai, operating under God's plan (2 Sam 17:14), understands that while Absalom has accepted his flawed long-term strategy, the immediate threat of Ahithophel's superior initial plan to attack swiftly has not diminished. Time is the critical factor David needs, and Hushai provides this with remarkable cunning and timely warning.

The verse encapsulates both strategic brilliance and extreme urgency. Hushai's immediate dispatch of messengers with precise instructions underscores the mortal danger David is in. The specific geographical details—the "fords of the wilderness"—indicate a precarious location where David could be easily trapped. The repeated emphasis on "quickly," "tonight," and "by all means cross over" leaves no room for David to dally. The threat of being "swallowed up" is a vivid biblical metaphor for utter and decisive defeat, a complete annihilation. This was not merely a skirmish, but an existential threat to David's kingship and the lives of all those loyal to him.

This verse therefore illustrates God's active involvement in the affairs of men, using a loyal servant's wisdom and cunning to protect His anointed king, even amid a grave crisis orchestrated by rebellion and treachery. It highlights that God can work through unusual means, even a deceptive plan, to accomplish His ultimate will and deliver His people.