2 Samuel 17 22

2 Samuel 17:22 kjv

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

2 Samuel 17:22 nkjv

So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

2 Samuel 17:22 niv

So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

2 Samuel 17:22 esv

Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

2 Samuel 17:22 nlt

So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.

2 Samuel 17 verses

2 Samuel 17 22 Meaning

This verse signifies a pivotal moment in David's flight from his son Absalom. It describes David and all his loyal followers successfully, urgently, and completely crossing the Jordan River before dawn. This immediate action was a direct result of the divinely orchestrated delay by Hushai's counsel, which foiled Ahithophel's destructive plan. The successful crossing, with no one missing, illustrates God's faithful protection and providential care over David and his people during their severe distress, providing a crucial barrier against Absalom's immediate pursuit and allowing David to regroup for the coming conflict.

2 Samuel 17 22 Context

The seventeenth chapter of 2 Samuel details the strategic counsel offered to Absalom by his chief advisors, Ahithophel and Hushai. Ahithophel advised an immediate, swift pursuit of David's weary and scattered forces to utterly crush them. This was militarily sound and likely would have succeeded. However, God, in His providence, intended to defeat Ahithophel's counsel (2 Sam 17:14) to protect David. Hushai, David's loyal spy, then offered a deceptive counter-counsel, advising Absalom to delay and gather all Israel for a massive assault. This counsel, though seemingly plausible for Absalom's vanity, gave David the critical time he needed. Informed by Zadoc and Abiathar's sons, David received word of Ahithophel's earlier plan and the urgency to cross the Jordan. Verse 22 records the successful execution of that urgent escape, putting a natural barrier between David's small, vulnerable group and Absalom's massive, but delayed, army. Historically, David had fled Jerusalem in great distress (2 Sam 15), shedding tears and feeling betrayed. Crossing the Jordan moved him into a region where he had some loyal tribal support, away from the immediate threat in Judah.

2 Samuel 17 22 Word analysis

• Then David and all the people who were with him: This emphasizes unity and loyal commitment even in dire circumstances. "All the people" (וְכָל־הָעָם - wəḵol-hā‘ām) suggests a significant company, not just a handful, and highlights the collective preservation. David, as king, led from the front, demonstrating both leadership and vulnerability.
• arose: (וַיָּקֻמוּ - wayyāqūmū from קוּם - qūm, to rise, stand up, arise). This verb implies swift, decisive action. There was no hesitation or lingering. It denotes an immediate and complete movement from their resting place.
• and crossed the Jordan: (וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן - wayya‘abə̆rū ’et-hayyarədēn from עָבַר - ‘ābar, to pass over, cross over). The Jordan River served as a significant natural barrier. Its crossing symbolized a major passage or transition in biblical narrative (e.g., Israel entering Canaan under Joshua). For David, it represented moving from extreme peril into a zone where he could re-establish defenses and gather strength.
• by morning light: (בְּאוֹר הַבֹּקֶר - bə’ōr habbōqer, "in the light of the morning"). This denotes the absolute urgency and precise timing of their escape. They likely traveled through the entire night to reach the river and cross it before daybreak fully arrived, ensuring they were well out of reach before Absalom's forces could initiate pursuit based on Ahithophel's original, swift plan. It suggests God's providential orchestration of time.
• and not one of them was missing: (עַד־אֶחָד לֹא־נֶעְדָּר - ‘ad-’eḥād lō’-ne‘dār, "to one (person) not missing"). This is the pinnacle of divine preservation. Despite the darkness, the haste, the confusion of flight, and the treacherous conditions of crossing a river, not a single individual from David's company was lost, separated, or unaccounted for. This highlights God's perfect watch care over His anointed king and all those who stood with him, emphasizing their safety and the miraculous nature of their complete survival. It speaks of divine protection from accident, capture, or being left behind.

2 Samuel 17 22 Bonus section

• The meticulous account of "not one...missing" stands in stark contrast to potential chaos expected during a nocturnal, urgent crossing under the threat of imminent pursuit. This orderliness speaks to David's exceptional leadership, guided by divine favor.
• The Jordan River here acts as more than a physical barrier; it symbolizes a line of demarcation, much like the Red Sea for the Israelites, marking a shift from immediate vulnerability to a phase of strategic advantage and safety under divine watch.
• The entire sequence of events – from Hushai's deceptive counsel, its acceptance by Absalom, Ahithophel's subsequent suicide, to David's safe crossing – is repeatedly attributed to the Lord's intervention, making 2 Samuel 17:22 a direct consequence of divine providence at work to save David's life and kingship.

2 Samuel 17 22 Commentary

2 Samuel 17:22 marks the dramatic climax of David's escape from Absalom's initial assault, directly following the triumph of Hushai's divinely inspired counter-counsel. The swift and total crossing of the Jordan River by David and all his people is not merely a logistical achievement but a powerful demonstration of God's active protection and precise timing. The urgency "by morning light" confirms the success of the night journey, directly facilitated by the delay Absalom suffered by rejecting Ahithophel's superior advice. The phrase "not one of them was missing" serves as the key theological point, signifying complete divine preservation despite overwhelming danger. This event is a clear example of God safeguarding His chosen servant, fulfilling His covenant promises, and setting the stage for David's ultimate restoration by granting him the vital time and geographical security to prepare for the inevitable confrontation. It underscores that God’s faithfulness extends even to the precise care for every single person aligned with His will.