Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:16
Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Hushai commands the priests Zadok and Abiathar to urgently relay a warning to David while Jonathan and Ahimaaz remain stationed at En-rogel to receive and forward the message.
The words — The imperative שִׁלְח֣וּ (shil.Chu) "send" paired with the adverb מְהֵרָה֩ (me.he.Rah) "quickly" establishes the urgent command, while the warning that the king and his followers will be swallowed up (בָּלַע) highlights the immediate threat.
The thread — This urgency echoes David’s earlier vow to wait at the fords of the wilderness until receiving word (2 Samuel 15:28) and shares the lexical motif of being "swallowed up" with the New Testament references provided (1 Corinthians 15:54; 2 Corinthians 5:4).
Why it lands — The text demands immediate obedience to a timely warning, showing that survival depends on heeding urgent counsel rather than lingering in a vulnerable position.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 15:28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
- 1 Samuel 20:38 Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
- 2 Samuel 15:14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
- 2 Samuel 17:21 After 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.”
- 2 Samuel 20:19 I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
- Psalms 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
- Psalms 55:8 I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”
- Psalms 56:2 My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.