2 Samuel 17:22-29

22 Therefore David rose up, and all the people that was with him, and they passed (over) Jordan, till it was clear day, before that the word was published; and soothly not one was left, that passed not (over) the flood. (And so David, and all the people who were with him, rose up, and they crossed the Jordan River before anyone knew it; and by daylight, everyone had crossed over the river.)
23 And Ahithophel saw, that his counsel was not done, and he saddled his ass, and rose up, and went into his house, and into his city; and when his house was disposed, he perished by hanging himself, and he was buried in the sepulchre of his father. (And Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, and so he saddled up his donkey, and went back to his house in his city; and after his affairs were in order, he hanged himself, and he was buried in his father's tomb, or his grave.)
24 And David came into the castles, and Absalom passed [over] Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. (And as David came to Mahanaim, Absalom, and all the men of Israel who were with him, crossed over the Jordan River.)
25 And Absalom ordained Amasa for Joab upon his host; and Amasa was the son of a man that was called Ithra of Jezreel, the which entered to Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, (and) the sister of Zeruiah, that was the mother of Joab. (And Absalom ordained Amasa upon his army, in Joab's place; and Amasa was the son of a man called Ithra, an Ishmaelite, who entered in to Abigail, who was Nahash's daughter, and Zeruiah's sister, Joab's mother.)
26 And Israel setted tents with Absalom in the land of Gilead.
27 And when David had come into the castles (And when David had come to Mahanaim), Shobi, the son of Nahash of Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, and Machir, the son of Ammiel, of Lodebar, and Barzillai, of Gilead, of Rogelim,
28 brought to him beddings, and tapets (brought him bedding, and blankets), and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and flour, and beans, and lentils/vetches, and fried chick(pea)s,
29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and fat calves. And they gave those to David, and to the people that were with him, to eat; for they supposed the people to be made faint for hunger and thirst in desert (for they knew that the people would be made hungry and thirsty in the wilderness).

2 Samuel 17:22-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 17

This chapter relates the advice Ahithophel gave to march out speedily with a number of men in pursuit of David, which at first seemed agreeable, 2Sa 17:1-4; but Hushai's opinion being asked, and he giving counsel to raise a larger army, which required time, and was taken to, hereby the counsel of Ahithophel was defeated, 2Sa 17:5-14; upon which he hanged himself, 2Sa 17:23; these different counsels being communicated by Hushai to the priests, they found means to transmit them to David, with an instruction to him to pass over Jordan immediately; which he did, and pitched in Gilead, and whither he was followed by Absalom, 2Sa 17:15-26; and where he met with a supply of provisions for his army from some eminent persons in and near that place, 2Sa 17:27-29.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.