2 Samuel 17 17

2 Samuel 17:17 kjv

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

2 Samuel 17:17 nkjv

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.

2 Samuel 17:17 niv

Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.

2 Samuel 17:17 esv

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city.

2 Samuel 17:17 nlt

Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 17 Meaning

2 Samuel 17:17 describes a crucial moment in the flight of King David from Absalom, detailing the secretive method by which urgent intelligence was relayed. Jonathan and Ahimaaz, messengers loyal to David, were positioned at En Rogel, a spring outside Jerusalem. To avoid suspicion, they did not dare enter the city, but instead received critical information from a maidservant who would go into the city, obtain the messages, and then convey them back to the waiting messengers at this pre-arranged, discreet location. This setup allowed vital, life-saving counsel to reach David about Ahithophel's immediate plan, without being detected by Absalom's forces.

2 Samuel 17 17 Context

Chapter 17 of 2 Samuel details the cunning and ultimately life-saving strategy deployed by King David's loyalists amidst Absalom's rebellion. Following Absalom's seizure of Jerusalem and David's flight (Chapter 15), Ahithophel, David's former trusted counselor now allied with Absalom, advises Absalom to pursue David immediately with a rapid strike (17:1-3). This counsel was considered highly effective, "as if one consulted the oracle of God" (16:23). However, David had prayed that God would turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness (15:31). God answered this prayer through Hushai the Archite, David's spy within Absalom's court. Hushai presents a counter-counsel, advocating for a larger, more formidable army to be gathered before attacking David (17:7-13). This counsel, favored by God to thwart Ahithophel's plan, bought David precious time. Verse 17:17 is the moment when the urgency of Ahithophel's original counsel, along with Hushai's delaying strategy, needed to be communicated immediately to David. Jonathan and Ahimaaz are crucial intermediaries, conveying this intelligence at great risk, as David's life depended on his rapid escape beyond the Jordan. The historical context underscores the severe peril David faced and the divine providence at play to preserve his life and his throne.

2 Samuel 17 17 Word analysis

• Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz: These were David's most trusted and skilled messengers. Jonathan was the son of Abiathar the priest, and Ahimaaz was the son of Zadok the priest (2 Sam 15:27, 36). Their high birth provided a cover of legitimacy but also made their capture perilous. Their willingness to risk their lives highlights their loyalty.
• were staying: The Hebrew verb 'amad (עָמַד - to stand, remain, wait) suggests a deliberate stationing or waiting in position, emphasizing their assigned post and readiness.
• by En Rogel: 'Ein Rogel (עֵין רֹגֵל) means "Fountain of the Fuller" or "Spy's Fountain." This was a significant spring south of Jerusalem, near the junction of the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Hinnom. It was outside the city walls but close enough for quick access to information and travel. It was a well-known, public place but one where people like fullers or travelers might congregate, making a casual presence less suspicious. Its location afforded a vantage point or at least awareness of who entered and exited the city via the southern route. Its name suggests a connection to spying or "treading" as in the process of fulling cloth, or simply foot traffic.
• for they dared not: The Hebrew lo’ ya‘alu (לֹא יַעֲלוּ - not to go up, ascend) indicates they refrained from entering the city. This signifies the extreme danger and the strict security measures within Jerusalem, now under Absalom's control. Their identities as allies of David would be easily recognized and lead to immediate capture or death.
• to be seen: From ra’ah (רָאָה - to see, appear). They knew their presence inside the city would instantly betray them and jeopardize the entire intelligence operation.
• entering the city: Refers to Jerusalem, where Absalom and his forces held control.
• but a servant girl: shifchah (שִׁפְחָה - maidservant, slave girl). The use of a young girl or woman was a common tactic for clandestine communication. Women could often move about with less suspicion, particularly to common places like water sources or washing areas, which were traditionally female domains. Her presence would appear ordinary, masking her true purpose. This demonstrates shrewdness in their plan.
• would go and inform them: Indicates her role as a vital intermediary, delivering the crucial verbal message. This highlights the risk and resourcefulness of those loyal to David. The transmission was verbal, implying its secrecy and urgency over written messages which could be intercepted and decoded.
• and they would go and tell King David: This phrase emphasizes the complete chain of communication and the direct objective of their presence at En Rogel—to immediately transmit the urgent information to David. The message's life-or-death importance mandated direct and rapid relay.

2 Samuel 17 17 Bonus section

The area around En Rogel and the nearby Kidron Valley was associated with washing and fulling clothes, activities that involved water and often took place outside city gates due to the smell and required space. This explains why the "servant girl" might plausibly go back and forth without drawing undue attention. Later, En Rogel served as a significant meeting place for various events, including Adonijah's feast to declare himself king (1 Ki 1:9), underscoring its historical importance as a strategic gathering point outside the immediate oversight of Jerusalem's leadership. The detailed account of the intelligence network in 2 Samuel 17 illustrates not only the political maneuverings but also the very human elements of loyalty, courage, and ingenuity under immense pressure, all orchestrated providentially for God's purposes.

2 Samuel 17 17 Commentary

2 Samuel 17:17 is a pivotal verse highlighting the espionage and strategic ingenuity employed during Absalom's rebellion against King David. It paints a picture of perilous urgency, where David's loyalists, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, positioned themselves discreetly at En Rogel. This choice of location, a well-known spring outside the city, allowed them to maintain a presence without arousing suspicion by directly entering Jerusalem. The brilliant detail of employing a seemingly inconspicuous "servant girl" to shuttle intelligence underscores the need for clandestine communication. Women often moved freely in public spaces for domestic chores like drawing water or laundry (near En Rogel), making their actions appear routine. This operation demonstrates both the resourcefulness of David's loyal network and the intensity of the threat to David's life. It ultimately served God's providence, allowing the critical news of Ahithophel's swift attack plan, along with Hushai's counter-counsel, to reach David in time for him to escape Absalom's clutches, ensuring the preservation of the king chosen by God.