2 Samuel, Chapter 17:

Verses from 2 Samuel, Chapter 17 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

• 1. Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Allow me to choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out this night to pursue David.
• 2. I will attack when he is exhausted and weak, causing panic in his army. I will make everyone flee except the king.
• 3. I will only bring back the king, and the entire army will be at peace. It’s just a man’s life you seek.”
• 4. Absalom and all the authorities of Israel considered this advice favorable.
• 5. However, Absalom said: “Call also Hushai the Arachite, so that we can hear his opinion.”
• 6. When Hushai arrived, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel gave us his advice. Should we follow it, or do you have another suggestion?”
• 7. Hushai replied: “The advice Ahithophel gave this time is not good.
• 8. You know that your father and his men are fierce warriors and are as furious as a bear whose cubs have been stolen. Furthermore, your father is an experienced warrior and will not spend the night with the army.
• 9. He must already be hiding in a cave or somewhere else. If some of his soldiers are killed in the first attack, everyone will hear about it and say, 'There has been slaughter in Absalom's army.'
• 10. Then even the bravest of soldiers, as fearless as a lion, will be terrified. For all Israel knows that their father is a valiant warrior and that his soldiers are valiant too.
• 11. “Therefore I advise that all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, be called together to join you, like the sand that is on the seashore. And you yourself will lead the army into battle.
• 12. Then we will attack David wherever he is and surround him as dew covers the earth. Neither he nor his men will escape.
• 13. If he takes refuge in any city, all Israel will bring ropes and drag the city into the valley until not even a small stone remains.”
• 14. Absalom and all the leaders of Israel considered Hushai's advice better than Ahithophel's. Because the Lord had planned to thwart Ahithophel's good counsel to bring disgrace upon Absalom.
• 15. Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar the advice that Ahithophel had given to Absalom and the leaders of Israel, and also the advice that he himself had subsequently given.
• 16. He asked them to immediately send a message to David, saying: “Do not stay overnight in the Jordan crossing areas in the wilderness. Cross the river immediately, or the king and his entire army will be destroyed.”
• 17. Jonathan and Ahimaaz were in En-rogel, and a servant kept them informed, as they could not be seen in the city. They were going to report to David what they had heard.
• 18. But a young man saw them and informed Absalom. So they left quickly and went to a man's house in Baurim, who had a well in his backyard. They went down to the well,
• 19. and the woman of the house put the lid on the well and sprinkled grains of cereal on top to disguise it.
• 20. When Absalom's soldiers came to the woman's house and asked, "Where are Jonathan and Ahimaaz?" the woman replied, "They crossed the stream." The soldiers looked for them but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
• 21. After the soldiers left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came out of the well and went to inform King David. They told him of Ahithophel's advice against him and told him to cross the Jordan immediately.
• 22. David and all his army left, and when the sun rose, they had all crossed the Jordan.
• 23. When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He put his affairs in order and then hanged himself. He was buried in his father's tomb.
• 24. David had already arrived at Mahanaim when Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
• 25. Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether, an Israelite who had had relations with Abigail, daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab.
• 26. Absalom and the Israelites camped in Gilead.
• 27. When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
• 28. They brought beds, basins and clay utensils for David and his army. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, parched grains, beans, lentils,
• 29. honey, curds, sheep and cow's milk cheese, because they knew that the army was tired, hungry and thirsty in the desert.

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