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2 Samuel 17:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 17:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
2 Samuel 17:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18But a lad saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down thither.
19And the woman took and spread the covering over the well`s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.
20And 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.
21And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
22Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over the Jordan.
23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
← 2 Samuel 17:202 Samuel 17:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass after they were departed, etc.] The servants of Absalom: that they came up out of the well; the sons of the priests, being informed by the woman that they were gone; Josephus f292 says they were drawn up by the woman with a rope: and went and told King David; who was now in the plain of the wilderness, perhaps near Jericho, and not a great way from Jordan, to whom they related the whole of their message: and said unto David; as they were directed: arise, and pass quickly over the water; the river Jordan: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you; to come with twelve thousand men, and fall upon him that very night; and it was not certain his counsel would be…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Arise: Sa2 17:15, Sa2 17:16 thus hath Ahithophel: Sa2 17:1-3 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:22”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“When they had gone away, the priest's sons came up out of the well and brought David the news, saying, "Go quickly over the water, for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you;" whereupon David and all the people with him went hastily over the Jordan. "Till the morning dawn not one was missed who had not gone over." אחד עד, lit. even to one there was not any one missed. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:23”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification