GOD’S HAND TO HELP DAVID

Passage: 2 Samuel 17:15-29

Key verse: 22

NIV

15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16 Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;(A) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.(B)’”

17 Jonathan(C) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.(D) A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.(E) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.(F)

20 When Absalom’s men came to the woman(G) at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”[a] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice(H) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order(I) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Absalom’s Death

24 David went to Mahanaim,(J) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa(K) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,[b](L) an Ishmaelite[c] who had married Abigail,[d] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash(M) from Rabbah(N) of the Ammonites, and Makir(O) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai(P) the Gileadite(Q) from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[e] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.(R) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.(S)”

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Samuel 17:20 Or “They passed by the sheep pen toward the water.”
  2. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether
  3. 2 Samuel 17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite
  4. 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail
  5. 2 Samuel 17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

15 (A)Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at (B)the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be (C)swallowed up.’” 17 Now (D)Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at (E)En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at (F)Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it. 19 (G)And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it. 20 When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook[a] of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, (H)“Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.” 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to (I)his own city. He (J)set his house in order and (K)hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 Then David came to (L)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Now Absalom had set (M)Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite,[b] who had married Abigal the daughter of (N)Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, (O)Shobi the son of Nahash from (P)Rabbah of the Ammonites, and (Q)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and (R)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils,[c] 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and (S)weary and thirsty (T)in the wilderness.”

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Samuel 17:20 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. 2 Samuel 17:25 Compare 1 Chronicles 2:17; Hebrew Israelite
  3. 2 Samuel 17:28 Hebrew adds and parched grain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Hushai sent two messengers to warn David of Ahithophel’s strategy and advise him not to spend the night at the fords but to cross the river at once. Hearing the message, David must have realized that God was working for him. He crossed the Jordan to escape the immediate danger. Once Ahithophel heard the news, he hanged himself, for he could foresee that Absalom who chose Hushai’s advice would fail.

When David camped at Mahanaim, his loyal supporters brought supplies for David and his people. They were Shobi, a Gentile; Makir, a former loyalist of Saul’s; and Barzillai, an old man in his eighties. They were not strong warriors, but they came to feed and refresh David and his men. Friends in need are friends indeed. God comforted and strengthened David through these unexpected people during his trial.

There are times in life when we feel like we are on our own without anyone to help us. However, God’s invisible hand protects, helps, and guides those who trust in Him. We are to rely on God and to walk faithfully with him even when we encounter hardships and challenges in life.

Prayer: Lord, you have guarded and led my life with your hand. Help me trust in you and walk by faith faithfully.

One Word: Trust God and see His guiding hand