2 Samuel 17 21

2 Samuel 17:21 kjv

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you.

2 Samuel 17:21 nkjv

Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, "Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you."

2 Samuel 17:21 niv

After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, "Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you."

2 Samuel 17:21 esv

After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, "Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you."

2 Samuel 17:21 nlt

Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. "Quick!" they told him, "cross the Jordan tonight!" And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 21 Meaning

This verse conveys a critical, urgent message delivered to King David, informing him of Ahithophel's deadly counsel to Absalom and the immediate necessity for David and his company to cross the Jordan River without delay to escape certain destruction. It marks the culmination of the efforts of David's loyal intelligence network and sets the stage for David's continued flight and eventual military strategy.

2 Samuel 17 21 Context

This verse is pivotal within the narrative of Absalom’s rebellion against King David. Chapters 15-17 detail David's hurried flight from Jerusalem and Absalom's subsequent occupation of the city. Absalom seeks counsel on how to deal with David, receiving conflicting advice from Ahithophel and Hushai the Archite. Ahithophel, a trusted but now treacherous former advisor to David, offers a swift and deadly strategy: pursue David immediately with 12,000 chosen men and strike him while he is weary and demoralized (2 Sam 17:1-4). This counsel was militarily sound and would likely have succeeded. However, through divine intervention in response to David's prayer, Hushai, David's loyal double agent, advises Absalom to delay and gather a much larger army to ensure a comprehensive victory, a plan designed to give David time to regroup (2 Sam 17:7-13). Absalom and the elders surprisingly choose Hushai's counsel, fulfilling God's purpose to thwart Ahithophel's wise counsel and bring disaster upon Absalom. This verse describes the moment Ahimaaz and Jonathan, David’s messengers, having overcome significant obstacles and narrow escapes (2 Sam 17:17-20), finally deliver the crucial intelligence. The urgent command to "cross over the water quickly" refers to the Jordan River, a natural barrier, which once crossed, would provide David with a degree of temporary safety from Absalom's imminent pursuit.

2 Samuel 17 21 Word analysis

• So it was, after they had departed (וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי לֶכְתָּם, vayhi aharei lektam): "So it was" (vayhi) is a common narrative transition, signifying a subsequent event. "After they had departed" emphasizes the completion of their dangerous task of evasion and journeying from their hiding place. Their successful departure from observation was crucial for delivering the message.
• that they came up from the well (וְהֵם עָלוּ מִבְּאֵר, vehem alu mi-b'er): Refers to their emergence from the well at `Ein Rogel (Fountain of the Fullers/Spy's Well), located just south of Jerusalem. This well was their initial hiding spot, used to avoid discovery by Absalom's forces. Their "coming up" signifies the end of their hiding and the commencement of their swift mission. `Ein Rogel (עין רוגל): A key strategic and well-known landmark, literally meaning "spring of the foot-washer" or "fountain of the spies." It was a common rendezvous point outside the city walls. Their emerging implies successful evasion of their pursuers, the young man sent by Absalom.
• and went and told King David (וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּגִּידוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד, vayyelkhu vayyaggidu lammelekh David): Highlights the completion of their perilous journey and the direct, formal communication to the legitimate king. "Told" (naggidu from nagad) implies a clear and concise report, essential for urgent action. This swift delivery underscores the efficiency of David's intelligence network.
• and said to David, "Arise (וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו: קוּם, vayyo'meru elav: qum): The direct address to David underscores the personal danger to him. "Arise" (qum) is a Hebrew imperative indicating urgency and immediate action. It is a command to cease waiting or resting and to begin movement at once. This isn't merely advice but a call to quick flight.
• and cross over the water quickly (עֲבֹר אֶת הַמַּיִם מְהֵרָה, avor et ha-mayim meherah): "Cross over the water" refers specifically to the Jordan River, which lay to the east of David’s current location (likely in the plains of the wilderness). Crossing the Jordan would provide a natural defensive barrier between David and Absalom’s advancing army. "Quickly" (meherah) is crucial; it highlights the critical time constraint due to Ahithophel's advice for immediate pursuit. The swiftness is a matter of life and death.
• for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you!" (כִּי כֵן יָעַץ עֲלֵיכֶם אֲחִיתֹפֶל, ki ken ya'atz `alekem Ahitophel): This provides the reason for the extreme urgency. Ahithophel's reputation as a wise and astute counselor (2 Sam 16:23) means his advice, even if overridden, presented a very real and credible threat. The implication is that his counsel, if followed, would have led to David's swift capture or death. The messengers' use of "counselled against you" (ya'atz `alekem) confirms the malevolent intent of Ahithophel's advice from David's perspective, emphasizing the direct personal danger.

2 Samuel 17 21 Bonus section

• Divine Providence and Human Action: This verse vividly illustrates how divine providence works through human agents and their actions. While God had purposed to defeat Ahithophel's counsel (2 Sam 17:14), it still required the bravery and timely action of Jonathan, Ahimaaz, and their helpers to deliver the crucial message to David. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty operate in tandem.
• Symbolism of the Jordan: The Jordan River frequently served as a geographical and symbolic boundary in biblical narratives (e.g., entering the Promised Land, fleeing, finding refuge). Crossing it signified not just a physical barrier for safety but also a potential turning point or separation from a immediate danger, establishing a new phase in David’s exile.
• The Intelligence Network: The efficiency of David's spy network, consisting of Hushai, Zadok, Abiathar, Ahimaaz, and Jonathan, along with supporting figures like the young woman and the man at Bahurim, is key to David's survival. This shows the importance of loyalty, communication, and strategic intelligence even for God's chosen king.
• Ahithophel's Strategic Genius: The reason for the intense urgency in this verse is because Ahithophel's advice (to immediately pursue David) was sound and would have been decisive. The danger was not imaginary but very real, demonstrating Ahithophel's capability as a formidable antagonist whose wisdom rivaled even that of an oracle (2 Sam 16:23).
• Foreshadowing of a New Beginning: David's urgent flight across the Jordan sets the stage for him to gather forces and eventually confront Absalom's army on the other side. This crossing symbolizes David’s escape from immediate defeat and provides the necessary time for him to re-establish his leadership and military strength.

2 Samuel 17 21 Commentary

2 Samuel 17:21 is a pivotal moment in David’s flight from Absalom. It marks the culmination of divine providence overriding human strategy. Despite Ahithophel’s strategically brilliant counsel to Absalom—a counsel which would have certainly led to David’s demise had it been immediately implemented—God, through Hushai’s counter-advice, ensured that a delay was introduced. This verse highlights the successful transmission of vital intelligence that was essential for David's survival. The messengers, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, demonstrated immense bravery and loyalty, navigating dangers to deliver the life-saving warning. The message "Arise and cross over the water quickly" is not mere information but an urgent, existential command. David's immediate response and subsequent crossing of the Jordan underscores the gravity of the threat and the wisdom of acting decisively on divinely provided knowledge. This moment ultimately prevents Absalom's quick victory and sets the stage for the final confrontation, reaffirming God’s sovereignty over human machinations, even the most cunning and effective ones.