2 Samuel 17:20

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-21 Here was a wonderful effect of Divine Providence blinding Absalom's mind and influencing his heart, that he could not rest in Ahithophel's counsel, and that he should desire Hushai's advice. But there is no contending with that God who can arm a man against himself, and destroy him by his own mistakes and passions. Ahithophel's former counsel was followed, for God intended to correct David; but his latter counsel was not followed, for God meant not to destroy him. He can overrule all counsels. Whatever wisdom or help any man employs or affords, the success is from God alone, who will not let his people perish....

As soon as ever she had hid the men she went into the house, as if busy about her usual occupations. Had Absalom’s servants, who had had information from some of the people of Bahurim that the men had come to this house, found her in the court it might have directed their attention to the peeled barley. OVER THE BROOK OF WATER - Compare 2 Samuel 16:9 note. The word for “brook” (“Michal”) occurs only here. One has been found in this very district, still so called. The woman showed great presence of mind and adroitness in not denying that they had been there....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 17:1 LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN. The advice of Ahithophel was such as would have made success almost certain. The rebellion had taken David by surprise, and he was quite unprepared to resist the large forces which Absalom had gathered round him. But the better part of the nation disapproved of the enterprise, especially when they perceived that David's life was in danger; and consequently his followers, in course of time, would increase. Moreover, the day had been one of extreme moral and mental trial to David. Upon the sudden news of Absalom's approach, he had to arrange for the flight of his wives and children; to provide supplies for their wants, and for those of their attendants on the march; to give orders to his officers, and take means to prevent their flight degenerating into a panic. Then, wi

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 told them, which is not to be justified; the Vulgate Latin version, "they passed over hastily, having drank a little water;'' and so Josephus r in some copies: AND WHEN THEY HAD SOUGHT AND COULD NOT FIND [THEM]; not only searched that house, but very probably others in Bahurim: THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM; to give an account what success they had. r Antiqu.

7. ABSALOM, AHITOPHEL, AND HUSHAI CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The counsel of Ahitophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1)_ 2. The counsel made known to David (2 Samuel 17:15) 3. Ahitophel commits suicide (2 Samuel 17:23) 4. Absalom pitched in Gilead (2 Samuel 17:24) 5. The kindness of Shobi, Machir and Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:27) Ahitophel's counsel was aimed at the person of David only. He wanted to have him killed and thus by the death of the one man bring all Israel back. But Ahitophel had not

DAVID COMES TO MAHANAIM (J). 2 Samuel 17:15. Meanwhile David was in constant communication with his agents in Jerusalem through Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But one day, apparently when the news of Ahithophel's advice was being conveyed to David, they were seen and pursued, but escaped by being hidden in a well (_cf._ Joshua 2:6), and got away and brought the news to the king. 2 SAMUEL 17:17. EN-ROGEL: 1 Kings 1:9 *. 2 Samuel 17:20. brook: _michal,_ a word of unknown meaning, occurring only here....

SAID. Probably misdirecting them....

Hushai sends word to David by Jonathan and Ahimaaz 16. _Lodge not this night_ A prudent precaution, for Absalom might change his mind, and follow Ahithophel's counsel after all. _in the plains of the wilderness_ Perhaps we should read _at the fords of the wilderness_. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 15:28....

THEY BE GONE OVER THE BROOK OF WATER— _They passed away quickly._ Houbigant. According to Josephus and the Vulgate, the meaning is, that they just drank a little water and hasted forward. _Note;_ (1.) The weakest instruments in God's hand can answer the greatest purposes. (2.) A lie, though told to serve a good cause, ceases not therefore to be a bad thing....