2 Samuel 17 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
2 Samuel 17 (WEBP)
[1] Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.
[2] I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only,
[3] and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace.”
[4] The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
[5] Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear likewise what he says.”
[6] When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up.”
[7] Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
[8] Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
[9] Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’
[10] Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
[11] But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.
[12] So we will come on him in some place where he will be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground, then we will not leave so much as one of him and of all the men who are with him.
[13] Moreover, if he has gone into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn’t one small stone found there.”
[14] Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
[15] Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way.
[16] Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’ ”
[17] Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and report to them, and they went and told King David; for they couldn’t risk being seen coming into the city.
[18] But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.
[19] The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known.
[20] Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
[21] After they had departed, they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
[22] Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
[23] When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home to his city, set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.
[24] Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
[25] Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
[26] Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
[27] When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
[28] brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain,
[29] honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
2 Samuel 17 (KJVS)
[1] Moreover Ahithophel H302 said H559 (8799) unto Absalom H53, Let me now choose out H977 (8799) twelve H8147 H6240 thousand H505 men H376, and I will arise H6965 (8799) and pursue H7291 (8799) after H310 David H1732 this night H3915:
[2] And I will come H935 (8799) upon him while he [is] weary H3023 and weak H7504 handed H3027, and will make him afraid H2729 (8689): and all the people H5971 that [are] with him shall flee H5127 (8804); and I will smite H5221 (8689) the king H4428 only:
[3] And I will bring back H7725 (8686) all the people H5971 unto thee: the man H376 whom thou seekest H1245 (8764) [is] as if all returned H7725 (8800): [so] all the people H5971 shall be in peace H7965.
[4] And the saying H1697 pleased H3474 (8799) Absalom H53 well H5869, and all the elders H2205 of Israel H3478.
[5] Then said H559 (8799) Absalom H53, Call H7121 (8798) now Hushai H2365 the Archite H757 also, and let us hear H8085 (8799) likewise what he saith H6310.
[6] And when Hushai H2365 was come H935 (8799) to Absalom H53, Absalom H53 spake H559 (8799) unto him, saying H559 (8800), Ahithophel H302 hath spoken H1696 (8765) after this manner H1697: shall we do H6213 (8799) [after] his saying H1697? if not; speak H1696 (8761) thou.
[7] And Hushai H2365 said H559 (8799) unto Absalom H53, The counsel H6098 that Ahithophel H302 hath given H3289 (8804) [is] not good H2896 at this time H6471.
[8] For, said H559 (8799) Hushai H2365, thou knowest H3045 (8804) thy father H1 and his men H582, that they [be] mighty men H1368, and they [be] chafed H4751 in their minds H5315, as a bear H1677 robbed H7909 of her whelps in the field H7704: and thy father H1 [is] a man H376 of war H4421, and will not lodge H3885 (8799) with the people H5971.
[9] Behold, he is hid H2244 (8737) now in some H259 pit H6354, or in some H259 [other] place H4725: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown H5307 (8800) at the first H8462, that whosoever H8085 (8802) heareth H8085 (8804) it will say H559 (8804), There is a slaughter H4046 among the people H5971 that follow H310 Absalom H53.
[10] And he also [that is] valiant H1121 H2428, whose heart H3820 [is] as the heart H3820 of a lion H738, shall utterly H4549 (8736) melt H4549 (8735): for all Israel H3478 knoweth H3045 (8802) that thy father H1 [is] a mighty man H1368, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant H2428 men H1121.
[11] Therefore I counsel H3289 (8804) that all Israel H3478 be generally H622 (8736) gathered H622 (8735) unto thee, from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba H884, as the sand H2344 that [is] by the sea H3220 for multitude H7230; and that thou go H1980 (8802) to battle H7128 in thine own person H6440.
[12] So shall we come H935 (8804) upon him in some H259 place H4725 where he shall be found H4672 (8738), and we will light H5168 upon him as the dew H2919 falleth H5307 (8799) on the ground H127: and of him and of all the men H582 that [are] with him there shall not be left H3498 (8738) so much as H1571 one H259.
[13] Moreover, if H518 he be gotten H622 (8735) into a city H5892, then shall all Israel H3478 bring H5375 (8689) ropes H2256 to that city H5892, and we will draw H5498 (8804) it into the river H5158, until there be not one H1571 small stone H6872 found H4672 (8738) there.
[14] And Absalom H53 and all the men H376 of Israel H3478 said H559 (8799), The counsel H6098 of Hushai H2365 the Archite H757 [is] better H2896 than the counsel H6098 of Ahithophel H302. For the LORD H3068 had appointed H6680 (8765) to defeat H6565 (8687) the good H2896 counsel H6098 of Ahithophel H302, to the intent H5668 that the LORD H3068 might bring H935 (8687) evil H7451 upon Absalom H53.
[15] Then said H559 (8799) Hushai H2365 unto Zadok H6659 and to Abiathar H54 the priests H3548, Thus and thus did Ahithophel H302 counsel H3289 (8804) Absalom H53 and the elders H2205 of Israel H3478; and thus and thus have I counselled H3289 (8804).
[16] Now therefore send H7971 (8798) quickly H4120, and tell H5046 (8685) David H1732, saying H559 (8800), Lodge H3885 (8799) not this night H3915 in the plains H6160 (8675) H5679 of the wilderness H4057, but speedily H5674 (8800) pass over H5674 (8799); lest the king H4428 be swallowed up H1104 (8792), and all the people H5971 that [are] with him.
[17] Now Jonathan H3083 and Ahimaaz H290 stayed H5975 (8802) by Enrogel H5883; for they might H3201 (8799) not be seen H7200 (8736) to come H935 (8800) into the city H5892: and a wench H8198 went H1980 (8804) and told H5046 (8689) them; and they went H3212 (8799) and told H5046 (8689) king H4428 David H1732.
[18] Nevertheless a lad H5288 saw H7200 (8799) them, and told H5046 (8686) Absalom H53: but they went H3212 (8799) both H8147 of them away quickly H4120, and came H935 (8799) to a man’s H376 house H1004 in Bahurim H980, which had a well H875 in his court H2691; whither H8033 they went down H3381 (8799).
[19] And the woman H802 took H3947 (8799) and spread H6566 (8799) a covering H4539 over the well’s H875 mouth H6440, and spread H7849 (8799) ground corn H7383 thereon; and the thing H1697 was not known H3045 (8738).
[20] And when Absalom’s H53 servants H5650 came H935 (8799) to the woman H802 to the house H1004, they said H559 (8799), Where [is] Ahimaaz H290 and Jonathan H3083? And the woman H802 said H559 (8799) unto them, They be gone over H5674 (8804) the brook H4323 of water H4325. And when they had sought H1245 (8762) and could not find H4672 (8804) [them], they returned H7725 (8799) to Jerusalem H3389.
[21] And it came to pass, after H310 they were departed H3212 (8800), that they came up H5927 (8799) out of the well H875, and went H3212 (8799) and told H5046 (8686) king H4428 David H1732, and said H559 (8799) unto David H1732, Arise H6965 (8798), and pass quickly H4120 over H5674 (8798) the water H4325: for thus hath Ahithophel H302 counselled H3289 (8804) against you.
[22] Then David H1732 arose H6965 (8799), and all the people H5971 that [were] with him, and they passed over H5674 (8799) Jordan H3383: by the morning H1242 light H216 there lacked H5737 (8738) not one H259 of them that was not gone over H5674 (8804) Jordan H3383.
[23] And when Ahithophel H302 saw H7200 (8804) that his counsel H6098 was not followed H6213 (8738), he saddled H2280 (8799) [his] ass H2543, and arose H6965 (8799), and gat him home H3212 (8799) to his house H1004, to his city H5892, and put his household H1004 in order H6680 (8762), and hanged H2614 (8735) himself, and died H4191 (8799), and was buried H6912 (8735) in the sepulchre H6913 of his father H1.
[24] Then David H1732 came H935 (8804) to Mahanaim H4266. And Absalom H53 passed over H5674 (8804) Jordan H3383, he and all the men H376 of Israel H3478 with him.
[25] And Absalom H53 made H7760 (8804) Amasa H6021 captain of the host H6635 instead of Joab H3097: which Amasa H6021 [was] a man’s H376 son H1121, whose name H8034 [was] Ithra H3501 an Israelite H3481, that went in H935 (8804) to Abigail H26 the daughter H1323 of Nahash H5176, sister H269 to Zeruiah H6870 Joab’s H3097 mother H517.
[26] So Israel H3478 and Absalom H53 pitched H2583 (8799) in the land H776 of Gilead H1568.
[27] And it came to pass, when David H1732 was come H935 (8800) to Mahanaim H4266, that Shobi H7629 the son H1121 of Nahash H5176 of Rabbah H7237 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983, and Machir H4353 the son H1121 of Ammiel H5988 of Lodebar H3810, and Barzillai H1271 the Gileadite H1569 of Rogelim H7274,
[28] Brought H5066 (8689) beds H4904, and basons H5592, and earthen H3335 (8802) vessels H3627, and wheat H2406, and barley H8184, and flour H7058, and parched H7039 [corn], and beans H6321, and lentiles H5742, and parched H7039 [pulse],
[29] And honey H1706, and butter H2529, and sheep H6629, and cheese H8194 of kine H1241, for David H1732, and for the people H5971 that [were] with him, to eat H398 (8800): for they said H559 (8804), The people H5971 [is] hungry H7457, and weary H5889, and thirsty H6771, in the wilderness H4057.
Young’s Literal Translation
2 Samuel 17 (YLT)
[1] And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, ‘Let me choose, I pray thee, twelve thousand men, and I arise and pursue after David to-night,
[2] and come upon him, and he weary and feeble-handed, and I have caused him to tremble, and all the people have fled who are with him, and I have smitten the king by himself,
[3] and I bring back all the people unto thee-as the turning back of the whole is the man whom thou art seeking-all the people are peace.
[4] And the thing is right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.
[5] And Absalom saith, ‘Call, I pray thee, also for Hushai the Archite, and we hear what is in his mouth-even he.’
[6] And Hushai cometh in unto Absalom, and Absalom speaketh unto him, saying, ‘According to this word hath Ahithophel spoken; do we do his word? if not, thou-speak thou.’
[7] And Hushai saith unto Absalom, ‘Not good is the counsel that Ahithophel hath counselled at this time.’
[8] And Hushai saith, ‘Thou hast known thy father and his men, that they are heroes, and they are bitter in soul as a bereaved bear in a field, and thy father is a man of war, and doth not lodge with the people;
[9] lo, now, he is hidden in one of the pits, or in one of the places, and it hath been, at the falling among them at the commencement, that the hearer hath heard, and said, There hath been a slaughter among the people who are after Absalom;
[10] and he also, the son of valour, whose heart is as the heart of the lion, doth utterly melt, for all Israel doth know that thy father is a hero, and sons of valour are those with him.
[11] ‘So that I have counselled: Let all Israel be diligently gathered unto thee, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and thou thyself art going in the midst;
[12] and we have come in unto him in one of the places where he is found, and we are upon him as the dew falleth on the ground, and there hath not been left of him and of all the men who are with him even one.
[13] And if unto a city he is gathered, then they have caused all Israel to bear unto that city ropes, and we have drawn it unto the brook till that there hath not been found there even a stone.’
[14] And Absalom saith-and all the men of Israel-‘Better is the counsel of Hushai the Archite than the counsel of Ahithophel;’ and Jehovah willed to make void the good counsel of Ahithophel for the sake of Jehovah’s bringing unto Absalom the evil.
[15] And Hushai saith unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, ‘Thus and thus hath Ahithophel counselled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus I have counselled;
[16] and now, send hastily, and declare to David, saying, Lodge not to-night in the plains of the wilderness, and also, certainly pass over, lest there be a swallowing up of the king and of all the people who are with him.’
[17] And Jonathan and Ahimaaz are standing at En-Rogel, and the maid-servant hath gone and declared to them-and they go and have declared it to king David-for they are not able to be seen to go in to the city.
[18] And a youth seeth them, and declareth to Absalom; and they go on both of them hastily, and come in unto the house of a man in Bahurim, and he hath a well in his court, and they go down there,
[19] and the woman taketh and spreadeth the covering over the face of the well, and spreadeth on it the ground corn, and the thing hath not been known.
[20] And the servants of Absalom come in unto the woman to the house, and say, ‘Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?’ and the woman saith to them, ‘They passed over the brook of water;’ and they seek, and have not found, and turn back to Jerusalem.
[21] And it cometh to pass, after their going on, that they come up out of the well, and go and declare to king David, and say unto David, ‘Rise ye, and pass over hastily the waters, for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.’
[22] And David riseth, and all the people who are with him, and they pass over the Jordan, till the light of the morning, till one hath not been lacking who hath not passed over the Jordan.
[23] And Ahithophel hath seen that his counsel was not done, and he saddleth the ass, and riseth and goeth unto his house, unto his city, and giveth charge unto his household, and strangleth himself, and dieth, and he is buried in the burying-place of his father.
[24] And David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him;
[25] and Amasa hath Absalom set instead of Joab over the host, and Amasa is a man’s son whose name is Ithra the Israelite who hath gone in unto Abigail, daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab;
[26] and Israel encampeth with Absalom in the land of Gilead.
[27] And it cometh to pass at the coming in of David to Mahanaim, that Shobi, son of Nahash, from Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, from Rogelim,
[28] couch, and basin, and earthen vessel, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and roasted corn, and beans, and lentiles, and roasted pulse,
[29] and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, have brought nigh for David, and for the people who are with him to eat, for they said, ‘Thy people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.’