Day 147 – 2 Samuel 17:15-21

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 17:15-21

"Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled."

(2 Samuel 17:15)

Hushai goes to Zadok and Abiathar the priests and tells them what Ahithophel advised and what he himself advised. This is the communication plan David had arranged. Hushai was to hear what happened in the king's house, then pass the word to the priests, and the priests would get it to David.

"Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him."

(2 Samuel 17:16)

Hushai's message tells them to send quickly and warn David not to stay that night in the plains of the wilderness. Even though Hushai's counsel had been accepted, he still knows Ahithophel's plan was dangerous, and Hushai knows David must move before any attack can reach him.

"Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David."

(2 Samuel 17:17)

Jonathan and Ahimaaz wait by Enrogel for they cannot safely be seen coming into the city, so they wait outside where the message can reach them. Then a young woman carries the word to them. She may seem small in the story, but her part matters. Not everybody is named as a great warrior, but faithful obedience still matters.

"Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down."

(2 Samuel 17:18)

Jonathan and Ahimaaz are seen by a lad and he tells Absalom. Their movement has been discovered. So they leave quickly and come to a man's house in Bahurim. There is a well in the court, and they go down into it to hide. These messengers are now being hunted.

"And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known."

(2 Samuel 17:19)

A woman covers the mouth of the well and spreads ground corn on top so no one can tell the messengers are hidden there. This is a brave action. This simple act helps protect David's messengers and keeps their plan alive.

"And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem."

(2 Samuel 17:20)

Absalom's servants ask the woman where Ahimaaz and Jonathan are. She tells them they have gone over the brook of water. The men search, cannot find them, and return to Jerusalem. Is it okay lie when the result protects innocent people? Still, I see the LORD preserving the messengers. Absalom's men leave without finding them.

"And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you."

(2 Samuel 17:21)

Jonathan and Ahimaaz get up out of the well after Absalom's servants leave. They do not waste time. They go to David and deliver the warning. Their message is clear, "Arise, and pass quickly over the water." David must move because Ahithophel has counselled against him. This is the warning reaching the king in time. Hushai spoke, the priests listened, the young woman carried the message, the messengers ran, the woman hid them and God preserved the whole chain.