2 Samuel 17:26 kjv
So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
2 Samuel 17:26 nkjv
So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
2 Samuel 17:26 niv
The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
2 Samuel 17:26 esv
And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
2 Samuel 17:26 nlt
Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead.
2 Samuel 17 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 32:1-2 | "Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called that place Mahanaim." | Significance of Mahanaim as "two camps" or "God's camps," a place of divine encounter and protection. |
| Josh 21:38-39 | "...from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, a city of refuge; Mahanaim with its pasturelands;" | Mahanaim as a Levitical city, indicating its structured and perhaps safer nature within tribal territories. |
| 2 Sam 2:8-9 | "But Abner son of Ner... took Ish-Bosheth son of Saul... and brought him to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead..." | Mahanaim was previously a capital and safe haven for a rival king (Ish-Bosheth) against David, now a refuge for David. |
| 2 Sam 15:14 | "Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, 'Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape...'" | David's initial decision to flee Jerusalem from Absalom's sudden rebellion. |
| 2 Sam 15:23 | "The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by... the king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people crossed over toward the wilderness." | David's sorrowful exodus from Jerusalem. |
| 2 Sam 16:11 | "David said to Abishai and all his officials, 'My son, who came from my own body, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite!'" | Illustrates the severity of David's plight, even his own son sought his life. |
| 2 Sam 17:16 | "Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night in the plains of the wilderness, but cross over quickly...’" | Hushai's urgent warning emphasizing the need for David to cross the Jordan swiftly. |
| 2 Sam 17:22 | "So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan by dawn; not one of them was missing." | Immediate preceding context, emphasizing David's group's safe crossing. |
| Psa 3:1-2 | "LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”" | A psalm of David written during Absalom's rebellion, reflecting his despair and trust. |
| Psa 3:3-4 | "But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill." | David's declaration of God as his shield and source of deliverance. |
| Psa 4:8 | "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." | The theme of finding rest and safety through God's protection. |
| Psa 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." | Universal principle of God providing refuge in times of distress. |
| Psa 57:1 | "Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." | David's trust in God's protective refuge during calamity. |
| Prov 18:10 | "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." | Emphasizes God as a place of safety for those who seek Him. |
| 1 Sam 22:1-2 | "David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam... All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander." | Another instance of David gathering followers in a place of refuge during flight (from Saul). |
| Isa 41:10 | "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." | Divine assurance of presence and help during hardship. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | "and who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions... escaped the edge of the sword..." | Refers to those, including David, who, by faith, experienced miraculous deliverance from dangers. |
| 2 Cor 1:9-10 | "Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God... He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us." | God delivers His people from dire situations so they rely on Him, not self. |
| Lam 3:57-58 | "You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.' You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life." | God’s direct intervention and redemption for His distressed people. |
| Nahum 1:7 | "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." | God's nature as a refuge for those who trust Him. |
| Matt 2:13-14 | "When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt..." | Echoes the theme of God protecting His chosen one (Jesus) through flight and seeking refuge. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." | Related to the provision David was about to receive at Mahanaim, symbolizing God meeting needs. |
2 Samuel 17 verses
2 Samuel 17 26 Meaning
This verse states the successful arrival of King David and all the people loyal to him at Mahanaim, a strategically important city east of the Jordan River. Their journey was a hurried flight from Jerusalem due to the rebellion led by David's son Absalom, culminating in their reaching this refuge where they could regroup and receive necessary provisions. This arrival signifies a moment of temporary security and divine preservation for David and his loyalists during a perilous time.
2 Samuel 17 26 Context
2 Samuel chapter 17 is central to David's escape from Absalom's rebellion. Absalom, having seized Jerusalem, sought immediate action to capture David. His chief advisor, Ahithophel, recommended a swift pursuit with 12,000 men to attack David while he was weary and demoralized, aiming to kill only the king and win over the people. However, David's loyal intelligence agent, Hushai, countered this advice by suggesting a much larger, more ostentatious military gathering under Absalom's direct command, ostensibly to ensure victory but strategically to delay Absalom and give David time to gather his forces. Hushai's counsel, divinely orchestrated by the Lord to thwart Ahithophel, was accepted by Absalom. This delay allowed David to receive the critical message via Zadok and Abiathar's sons, instructing him and his followers to cross the Jordan River without delay. Verse 26 confirms the success of this plan, marking the completion of David's arduous flight across the Jordan into the relative safety of Mahanaim, a fortified city on the east bank. Historically, Mahanaim was significant as a place of divine encounter for Jacob and later served as a capital for Ish-Bosheth during the fragmented kingdom, establishing its reputation as a defensible stronghold.
2 Samuel 17 26 Word analysis
- So (וְ - `ve`): This is a connective particle, "and" or "then" or "so." It indicates a consequence or continuation of the preceding narrative. In this context, it signifies the culmination of David's hurried journey as described in the previous verses, particularly his crossing of the Jordan.
- David (דָּוִד - `Daviv`): The King of Israel, God's chosen and anointed. His name here highlights his person, despite his fleeing. His flight is not a sign of God abandoning him, but a phase of trial allowed by God.
- and all the people (וְכָל־הָעָם - `ve-chol-ha-am`): This phrase literally means "and all the people." It emphasizes that David was not alone; a significant loyal contingent, representing both military personnel and civilians, accompanied him. This signifies the depth of his support even amidst national rebellion and implies a unified loyal front. It underscores that despite Absalom's coup, a substantial part of the kingdom remained steadfast to their divinely appointed king.
- with him (אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ - `asher-itto`): "Who were with him." This reinforces the loyalty and solidarity of those who chose to flee with David, emphasizing their personal commitment to him rather than Absalom's rising power. It indicates a deliberate choice to align with the exiled king.
- came (בָּאוּ - `bā'ū`): From the Hebrew verb בּוֹא (`bo'`), meaning "to come, to enter, to arrive." The verb is in the perfect tense, signifying a completed action: "they arrived." This simple word carries great weight, denoting the successful completion of a perilous journey and reaching a place of relative safety, thanks to divine protection and timely counsel.
- to Mahanaim (מַחֲנַיְמָה - `mahanaimah`): "To Mahanaim." The suffix `-ה` (hah) denotes direction "to." Mahanaim (מַחֲנַיִם - `machanayim`) means "two camps" or "two hosts/armies." This name is highly significant as it was where Jacob encountered a host of angels and perceived God's presence as "two camps" (Gen 32:1-2). This city later served as a capital for Ish-Bosheth (2 Sam 2:8), making its choice as David's refuge meaningful. It implies a divinely appointed place of safety and potential strategic gathering.
- "David and all the people with him": This grouping highlights the unity and breadth of David's support base. It suggests that despite the king's vulnerability and flight, a substantial part of the nation remained committed to him, forming a nucleus of loyalists who recognized his legitimate rule, perhaps contrasting with the perceived temporary triumph of Absalom.
- "came to Mahanaim": This phrase marks a pivotal turning point in David's flight. It signifies the end of the immediate danger of pursuit and the beginning of a period of regrouping. Mahanaim’s biblical history as a place of divine encampment (Jacob) reinforces its significance as a sanctuary chosen by divine providence. Their arrival there, after crossing the formidable Jordan, signifies the success of Hushai's counter-counsel and God's intervention to protect His anointed king.
2 Samuel 17 26 Bonus section
Mahanaim's dual significance as "two camps" from Jacob's experience (Gen 32:2) is particularly relevant. It foreshadows the two "camps" or forces that would soon confront each other—David's loyalists and Absalom's rebels—and subtly suggests God's angelic hosts forming one of those "camps" alongside David, as he did for Jacob. Furthermore, Mahanaim's previous role as the initial capital for Ish-Bosheth, David's rival (2 Sam 2:8-9), adds a layer of irony and providential timing: a place once used to oppose David now became his divinely provided refuge from an even greater familial threat. The strategic location east of the Jordan River provided a natural barrier against a swift attack from Absalom's forces based in Jerusalem, allowing David precious time. The swiftness of David's flight and subsequent relief upon reaching Mahanaim also highlight the psychological and physical toll on David, showcasing him not as an invulnerable king, but a vulnerable man trusting in divine deliverance amidst severe personal and national crisis.
2 Samuel 17 26 Commentary
2 Samuel 17:26 succinctly confirms David's successful arrival at Mahanaim, bringing a temporary but critical end to the immediate danger of Absalom's pursuit. This single verse represents a major pivot in the narrative of David's flight, from a desperate escape to a point of regrouping and preparation. It underscores divine providence in guiding David to a place of refuge, largely through Hushai's God-inspired counsel which delayed Absalom's forces and prevented David's immediate capture and death. The city of Mahanaim, steeped in biblical history as a place of divine encounter and protection (for Jacob), serves as a symbolic sanctuary where David, though in exile, could begin to rebuild his strength and loyal following, receive aid, and eventually mount a counter-offensive. It exemplifies how God preserves His chosen ones, even amidst intense treachery and adversity, providing a "way of escape" when faced with overwhelming odds.