2 Samuel 17 Footnotes

17:18-20 Since God expects people to tell the truth, was it wrong for the woman to deceive Absalom’s messengers about the whereabouts of Jonathan and Ahimaaz? God does want people to tell the truth (see note on Ex 20:16); but even more he expects people to protect innocent human lives (see Pr 24:11). Jonathan and Ahimaaz had not committed any crime deserving of death, so it was right to take measures to protect them. Strictly speaking, the woman told the truth; the fugitives were “toward the water” (i.e., down in the well). For further discussion of lying, see notes on Ex 1:19; 1Sm 19:13-17; 20:6.