2 Samuel 17:20

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where [is] Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find [them], they returned to Jerusalem.

And when Absalom's {H53} servants {H5650} came {H935} to the woman {H802} to the house {H1004}, they said {H559}, Where is Ahimaaz {H290} and Jonathan {H3083}? And the woman {H802} said {H559} unto them, They be gone over {H5674} the brook {H4323} of water {H4325}. And when they had sought {H1245} and could not find {H4672} them, they returned {H7725} to Jerusalem {H3389}.

Avshalom's servants came to the woman at the house and asked, "Where are Achima'atz and Y'honatan?"The woman answered them, "They've crossed the stream."After searching and not finding them, they returned to Yerushalayim.

When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

And Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

Commentary

2 Samuel 17:20 continues the tense narrative of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. This verse highlights a critical moment of deception and protection for David's loyal messengers, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, who were carrying vital intelligence.

Context

Following Absalom's seizure of Jerusalem and David's hasty flight, David had left behind key allies like Hushai the Archite to act as a double agent. Hushai successfully countered Ahithophel's wise but dangerous counsel to Absalom, thereby buying David precious time. The information about Ahithophel's advice and Hushai's counter-counsel was relayed to David via his trusted messengers, Ahimaaz (son of Zadok the priest) and Jonathan (son of Abiathar the priest). They were initially hiding near En-rogel (2 Samuel 17:17) but were spotted by a young man who reported them to Absalom. They fled to Bahurim, where a loyal woman and her husband concealed them in a well, covering the opening with grain (2 Samuel 17:19). This verse details the search by Absalom's servants for the hidden messengers and the woman's quick thinking to protect them.

Key Themes

  • Loyalty and Deception: The woman's act of lying to Absalom's servants demonstrates profound loyalty to King David, placing her own safety at risk. Her quick, decisive deception was instrumental in protecting the messengers and, by extension, David himself. This contrasts sharply with the widespread disloyalty shown by many who joined Absalom's rebellion.
  • Divine Providence: While seemingly a simple act of human ingenuity, the successful hiding and subsequent escape of Ahimaaz and Jonathan can be seen as an instance of God's providential hand at work. Small, seemingly coincidental events, like the woman's quick wit, played a crucial role in preserving David and ensuring the fulfillment of God's covenant with him.
  • The Urgency of Information: The intense search by Absalom's servants underscores the critical importance of the intelligence Ahimaaz and Jonathan carried. The success of the messengers in delivering Hushai's warning was pivotal for David's survival and strategic planning against Absalom's forces.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God can use unexpected people and seemingly ordinary circumstances to achieve His purposes. The woman in Bahurim was not a prominent figure, yet her courage and quick thinking were vital in a moment of national crisis. It highlights the significance of individual acts of faithfulness, even in the face of danger. Furthermore, it illustrates the destructive nature of rebellion and the lengths to which those in power will go to suppress truth and loyalty.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 1:19 (3 votes)

    And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

  • 1 Samuel 19:12 (2 votes)

    So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

  • 1 Samuel 19:17 (2 votes)

    And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

  • Joshua 2:3 (2 votes)

    And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

  • Joshua 2:5 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass [about the time] of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

  • 2 Samuel 15:34 (2 votes)

    But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

  • Joshua 2:22 (2 votes)

    ¶ And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought [them] throughout all the way, but found [them] not.