2 samuel 17:21 - 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.”
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What does "2 samuel 17:21" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. To understand it, you need some context:
Absalom: David's son, who is leading a rebellion to usurp the throne.
David: The rightful king, who is fleeing Jerusalem to save his life.
Ahithophel: A highly respected and trusted advisor to David who betrayed him and joined Absalom. Ahithophel's counsel was considered incredibly wise.
Hushai: Another of David's advisors who pretended to join Absalom's side to undermine Ahithophel's advice and protect David.
Jonathan and Ahimaaz: Two men acting as messengers to secretly deliver information from Hushai to David.
Here's what the verse means:
"After they had departed, they came up out of the well...": Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been hiding in a well (or cistern) to avoid being captured by Absalom's men. Someone had informed on them (verse 20). A woman had cleverly hidden them inside the well and covered the opening. After the danger passed, they emerged.
"...and went and told King David...": They found David, who was on the run.
"...and they said to David, 'Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.'": They relayed a critical message from Hushai. Ahithophel had advised Absalom to immediately pursue and kill David while he was weak and vulnerable. They urged David to cross the Jordan River quickly to escape Ahithophel's planned attack.
In essence, this verse describes a moment of urgent warning. David is in grave danger, and these messengers are relaying intelligence that could save his life. It highlights the cunning strategy of Ahithophel and the importance of swift action to avoid his deadly counsel. It's a tense and pivotal moment in the narrative, showing the high stakes of the rebellion and the life-and-death consequences of the advice being given.
2 samuel 17:21 - 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.”
What does "2 samuel 17:21" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. To understand it, you need some context:
Absalom: David's son, who is leading a rebellion to usurp the throne.
David: The rightful king, who is fleeing Jerusalem to save his life.
Ahithophel: A highly respected and trusted advisor to David who betrayed him and joined Absalom. Ahithophel's counsel was considered incredibly wise.
Hushai: Another of David's advisors who pretended to join Absalom's side to undermine Ahithophel's advice and protect David.
Jonathan and Ahimaaz: Two men acting as messengers to secretly deliver information from Hushai to David.
Here's what the verse means:
"After they had departed, they came up out of the well...": Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been hiding in a well (or cistern) to avoid being captured by Absalom's men. Someone had informed on them (verse 20). A woman had cleverly hidden them inside the well and covered the opening. After the danger passed, they emerged.
"...and went and told King David...": They found David, who was on the run.
"...and they said to David, 'Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.'": They relayed a critical message from Hushai. Ahithophel had advised Absalom to immediately pursue and kill David while he was weak and vulnerable. They urged David to cross the Jordan River quickly to escape Ahithophel's planned attack.
In essence, this verse describes a moment of urgent warning. David is in grave danger, and these messengers are relaying intelligence that could save his life. It highlights the cunning strategy of Ahithophel and the importance of swift action to avoid his deadly counsel. It's a tense and pivotal moment in the narrative, showing the high stakes of the rebellion and the life-and-death consequences of the advice being given.