English Bible Presentation Sharing - 2-Samuel Book, chapter 17, verse 22 in Erven Version

2 Samuel 17 : 1 (ERVEN)

Ahithophel also said to Absalom, "Now, let me choose 12,000 men to chase David tonight.

2 Samuel 17 : 2 (ERVEN)

I will catch him while he is tired and weak. I will frighten him, and all his people will run away. But I will kill only King David.

2 Samuel 17 : 3 (ERVEN)

Then I will bring all the people back to you. If David is dead, all the people will come back in peace."

2 Samuel 17 : 4 (ERVEN)

This plan seemed good to Absalom and all the leaders of Israel.

2 Samuel 17 : 5 (ERVEN)

But Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Arkite. I also want to hear what he says."

2 Samuel 17 : 6 (ERVEN)

Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to Hushai, "This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, tell us."

2 Samuel 17 : 7 (ERVEN)

Hushai said to Absalom, "Ahithophel's advice is not good this time."

2 Samuel 17 : 8 (ERVEN)

Hushai added, "You know that your father and his men are strong men. They are as dangerous as a wild bear when something has taken its cubs. Your father is a skilled fighter. He will not stay all night with the people.

2 Samuel 17 : 9 (ERVEN)

He is probably already hiding in a cave or some other place. If your father attacks your men first, people will hear the news and think, 'Absalom's followers are losing!'

2 Samuel 17 : 10 (ERVEN)

Then even your bravest men will be frightened, because all the Israelites know that your father is a powerful soldier and that his men are very brave.

2 Samuel 17 : 11 (ERVEN)

"This is what I suggest: You must gather all the Israelites together from Dan to Beersheba. Then there will be many people, like the sand by the sea. Then you yourself must go into the battle.

2 Samuel 17 : 12 (ERVEN)

We will catch David wherever he is hiding and attack him with so many soldiers that they will be like the dew that covers the ground. We will kill David and all of his men�no one will be left alive.

2 Samuel 17 : 13 (ERVEN)

But if David escapes into a city, all the Israelites can bring ropes to that city and pull its walls down into the valley. Not even a small stone will be left in that city."

2 Samuel 17 : 14 (ERVEN)

Absalom and all the Israelites said, "Hushai's advice is better than Ahithophel's." Actually, Ahithophel's advice was good, but they said this because the Lord had decided to make Ahithophel's advice useless. He did this to punish Absalom.

2 Samuel 17 : 15 (ERVEN)

Hushai told the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, what was said. He told them what Ahithophel suggested to Absalom and the leaders of Israel. Hushai also told them what he himself had suggested. He said,

2 Samuel 17 : 16 (ERVEN)

"Send a message to David now! Tell him not to spend the night at the places where people cross into the desert. Tell him to go across the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, the king and all his people will not be caught."

2 Samuel 17 : 17 (ERVEN)

The priests' sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, did not want to be seen going into the town, so they waited at En Rogel. A servant girl went out to them and gave them the message. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz carried the message to King David.

2 Samuel 17 : 18 (ERVEN)

But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and ran to tell Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They arrived at a man's house in Bahurim. The man had a well in his courtyard. Jonathan and Ahimaaz went down into this well.

2 Samuel 17 : 19 (ERVEN)

The man's wife spread a sheet over the mouth of the well and covered it with grain. The well looked like a pile of grain, so no one would know to look there.

2 Samuel 17 : 20 (ERVEN)

Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman said to Absalom's servants, "They have already crossed over the brook." Absalom's servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they could not find them. So Absalom's servants went back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 17 : 21 (ERVEN)

After Absalom's servants left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well and went to King David. They said to David, "Hurry, go across the river. Ahithophel is planning to do something to you."

2 Samuel 17 : 22 (ERVEN)

So David and his people crossed over the Jordan River. By sunrise, all of David's people had crossed the Jordan River. No one was left behind.

2 Samuel 17 : 23 (ERVEN)

When Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not do what he suggested, he saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He made plans for his family and then hanged himself. They buried him in his father's tomb.

2 Samuel 17 : 24 (ERVEN)

David arrived at Mahanaim just as Absalom and the Israelites who were with him crossed over the Jordan River.

2 Samuel 17 : 25 (ERVEN)

Absalom and the Israelites made their camp in the land of Gilead. Absalom had made Amasa the new captain of the army. He took Joab's place. Amasa was the son of Ithra the Ishmaelite. His mother was Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Joab's mother, Zeruiah.

2 Samuel 17 : 26 (ERVEN)

2 Samuel 17 : 27 (ERVEN)

When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai were there. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar. Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead.

2 Samuel 17 : 28 (ERVEN)

These three men said, "The people are tired, hungry, and thirsty from the desert." So they brought many things to David and those with him. They brought beds, bowls, and other kinds of dishes. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, dried seeds, honey, butter, sheep, and cheese made from cow's milk.