2 Samuel 17:15-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15-21

We must now leave David's enemies pleasing themselves with the thoughts of a sure victory by following Hushai's counsel, and sending a summons, no doubt, to all the tribes of Israel, to come to the general rendezvous at a place appointed, pursuant to that counsel; and we next find David's friends consulting how to get him notice of all this, that he might steer his course accordingly. Hushai tells the priests what had passed in council, 2 Sam. 17:15. But, it should seem, he was not sure but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests ,.... After he was returned from the council board, he immediately went to these priests, who he knew were in the interest of David, and to whom he was to communicate, and by them transmit, what passed at Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 15:35 , thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel ; relating to them in express words what he advised to: and thus and thus have I counselled ; telling them in what manner he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:16

Now therefore send quickly and tell David ,.... What has been advised to on both sides: saying, lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness ; which reached to Jericho; this advice he gave, because he knew not whether his counsel would be abode by, though preferred; Absalom and the elders of Israel might change their minds, and Ahithophel might, by the strength of his oratory, prevail upon them after all to follow his advice; and therefore, to guard against the worst, he judged... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:17

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel ,.... Who were the sons of the priests; these did not go into the city of Jerusalem with their parents, when they were sent back by David, 2 Samuel 15:27 ; but stayed by their direction at this place, which was near Jerusalem, and is called in the Targum the fuller's fountain, where they washed their clothes; and, as Kimchi and Jarchi say, by treading them with their feet, whence it had the name of Rogel, of which See Gill on Joshua 15:7 , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:18

Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom ,.... Saw them conversing with the girl, and departing for David's army; according to Josephus F15 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 7. , they were some horsemen that saw them about two furlongs or a quarter mile from Jerusalem, and acquainted Absalom with it: but they went both of them away quickly ; made all the haste they could with their message to David: and came to a man's house in Bahurim ; where very probably they had been informed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:19

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth ,.... This woman, very probably, was the man's wife of the house, as Abarbinel notes; who took a cloth, and spread it over the well's mouth, that it could not be seen or known that there was a well there: and spread ground corn thereon : just taken out of the mill, before it was sifted, while in the bran; or corn unhusked, or just threshed out, in order to be dried in the sun, and then parched; or wheat bruised for that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:20

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house ,.... Who were sent after then, had intelligence which way they took, and into what house they turned: they said, where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ? calling them by their names, being persons well known, and as to them, so to the woman of the house, as they supposed: and the woman said unto them, they be gone over the brook of water ; the river Jordan; so the Targum,"they have already passed over Jordan;' this was a lie she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:21

And it came to pass after they were departed ,.... The servants of Absalom: that they came up out of the well ; the sons of the priests, being informed by the woman that they were gone; Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 9. sect. 7. Hudson. not. in ib. says they were drawn up by the woman with a rope: and went and told King David ; who was now in the plain of the wilderness, perhaps near Jericho, and not a great way from Jordan, to whom they related the whole of their message: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 17:17

En-rogel - The fullers' well; the place where they were accustomed to tread the clothes with their feet; hence the name עין ein , a well, and רגל regel , the foot, because of the treading above mentioned. And a wench went and told them - The word wench occurs nowhere else in the Holy Scriptures: and, indeed, has no business here; as the Hebrew word שפחה shiphchah , should have been translated girl, maid, maid-servant. The word either comes from the Anglo-Saxon, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15-22

Slight services: a sermon to young persons. "And a wench [the maidservant] went and told them, and they went and told King David" ( 2 Samuel 17:17 ). The people of Israel were divided into two parties—the good and the bad; the servants of King David, who had been driven away from Jerusalem, and the servants of Absalom, who had taken possession of the city and were now intent upon his destruction. The world is also divided into two parties, consisting of those who are for Christ and those... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 17:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15-22

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