2 Samuel

2 Samuel 17:17–22

¹⁷Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. ¹⁸But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

²⁰When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

“They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”

²²So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

Read all of 2 Samuel 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 17:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now Jonathan	וִיהוֹנָתָ֨ן	wî·hō·w·nā·ṯān	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3083 Jehonathan
and Ahimaaz	וַאֲחִימַ֜עַץ	wa·’ă·ḥî·ma·‘aṣ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H290 Achimaats
were staying	עֹמְדִ֣ים	‘ō·mə·ḏîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H5975 take one's stand, stand
at En-rogel	רֹגֵ֗ל	rō·ḡêl	Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5883 En-Rogel
where a servant girl	הַשִּׁפְחָה֙	haš·šip̄·ḥāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8198 maid, maid-servant
would come	וְהָלְכָ֤ה	wə·hā·lə·ḵāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and pass along information	וְהִגִּ֣ידָה	wə·hig·gî·ḏāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
to them	לָהֶ֔ם	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
They	וְהֵם֙	wə·hêm	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
in turn would go	יֵֽלְכ֔וּ	yê·lə·ḵū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
and inform	וְהִגִּ֖ידוּ	wə·hig·gî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H5046 be conspicuous
King	לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
David	דָּוִ֑ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
for	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they dared	יוּכְל֛וּ	yū·ḵə·lū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
be seen	לְהֵרָא֖וֹת	lə·hê·rā·’ō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct	H7200 see
entering	לָב֥וֹא	lā·ḇō·w	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the city	הָעִֽירָה׃	hā·‘î·rāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H5892 excitement

2 Samuel 17:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But a young man	נַ֔עַר	na·‘ar	Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
did see	וַיַּ֤רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
them	אֹתָם֙	’ō·ṯām	Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
and told	וַיַּגֵּ֖ד	way·yag·gêḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
Absalom	לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם	lə·’aḇ·šā·lōm	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H53 Abshalom
So the two	שְׁנֵיהֶ֨ם	šə·nê·hem	Number - masculine dual construct; third person masculine plural	H8147 two
left	וַיֵּלְכוּ֩	way·yê·lə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
quickly	מְהֵרָ֜ה	mə·hê·rāh	Adverb	H4120 haste, speed
and came	וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ׀	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the house	בֵּֽית־	bêṯ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of a man	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
in Bahurim	בְּבַחוּרִ֗ים	bə·ḇa·ḥū·rîm	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H980 Bachurim
He had	וְל֥וֹ	wə·lōw	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine singular
a well	בְאֵ֛ר	ḇə·’êr	Noun - feminine singular	H875 well, pit
in his courtyard	בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ	ba·ḥă·ṣê·rōw	Preposition-b; Noun - common singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2691 enclosure, court
and they climbed down	וַיֵּ֥רְדוּ	way·yê·rə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
into it	שָֽׁם׃	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither

2 Samuel 17:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then	הָאִשָּׁ֗ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
took	וַתִּקַּ֣ח	wat·tiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3947 take
a covering	הַמָּסָךְ֙	ham·mā·sāḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4539 covering, screen
spread	וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ	wat·tip̄·rōś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H6566 spread out, spread
it over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the mouth	פְּנֵ֣י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the well	הַבְּאֵ֔ר	hab·bə·’êr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H875 well, pit
and scattered	וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח	wat·tiš·ṭaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7849 spread, spread abroad
grain	הָֽרִפ֑וֹת	hā·ri·p̄ō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H7383 grits
over it	עָלָ֖יו	‘ā·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5921 height
so nobody	וְלֹ֥א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
would know	נוֹדַ֖ע	nō·w·ḏa‘	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3045 know
a thing	דָּבָֽר׃	dā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word

2 Samuel 17:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Absalom’s	אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם	’aḇ·šā·lō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H53 Abshalom
servants	עַבְדֵי֩	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
came	וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶֽל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the woman	הָאִשָּׁ֜ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
at the house	הַבַּ֗יְתָה	hab·bay·ṯāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1004 house
they asked	וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Where	אַיֵּ֗ה	’ay·yêh	Interrogative	H346 Where?
are Ahimaaz	אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙	’ă·ḥî·ma·‘aṣ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H290 Achimaats
and Jonathan	וִיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן	wî·hō·w·nā·ṯān	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3083 Jehonathan
They have crossed over	עָבְר֖וּ	‘ā·ḇə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the brook	מִיכַ֣ל	mî·ḵal	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4323 brook, stream (?)
she	הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
replied	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
The men searched	וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙	way·ḇaq·šū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1245 seek
but did not	וְלֹ֣א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
find	מָצָ֔אוּ	mā·ṣā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H4672 attain to, find
so they returned	וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ	way·yā·šu·ḇū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
to Jerusalem	יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem

2 Samuel 17:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	אַחֲרֵ֣י	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind
had gone	לֶכְתָּ֗ם	leḵ·tām	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up	וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙	way·ya·‘ă·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
out of the well	מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר	mê·hab·bə·’êr	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H875 well, pit
and went	וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ	way·yê·lə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
to inform	וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ	way·yag·gi·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
King	לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
David	דָּוִ֑ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
saying	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Get up	ק֣וּמוּ	qū·mū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and cross over	וְעִבְר֤וּ	wə·‘iḇ·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the river	הַמַּ֔יִם	ham·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
at once	מְהֵרָה֙	mə·hê·rāh	Adverb	H4120 haste, speed
for	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Ahithophel	אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃	’ă·ḥî·ṯō·p̄el	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H302 Achithophel
has given this	כָ֛כָה	ḵā·ḵāh	Adverb	H3602 thus
advice	יָעַ֥ץ	yā·‘aṣ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3289 advise, counsel
against you	עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם	‘ă·lê·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural	H5921 height

2 Samuel 17:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So David	דָּוִ֗ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
and all	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the people	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
with him	אִתּ֔וֹ	’it·tōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H854 with
got up	וַיָּ֣קָם	way·yā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and crossed	וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ	way·ya·‘aḇ·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan
By	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
daybreak	א֣וֹר	’ō·wr	Noun - common singular construct	H216 light
there was no	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
one	אַחַד֙	’a·ḥaḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
left	נֶעְדָּ֔ר	ne‘·dār	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5737 help
who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
had not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
crossed	עָבַ֖ר	‘ā·ḇar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan