795 - Hushai Warns David to Escape

Hushai Warns David to Escape

Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said, to Absalom, and the elders of Israel …and what he himself had advised, instead. 

“Quick!” he told them. 

“Find David, and urge him not to stay at the shallows, of the Jordan River, tonight. 

He must go across, at once, into the wilderness, beyond. 

Otherwise, he will die, and his entire army, with him.” 

Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel, so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. 

Arrangements had been made, for a servant girl, to bring them the message, that they were to take, to King David. 

But, a boy spotted them, at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. 

So, they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them, down inside a well, in his courtyard. 

The man’s wife put a cloth, over the top, of the well,  and scattered grain on it, to dry, in the sun; so no one suspected, that they were there. 

When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, 

“Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” 

The woman replied, 

“They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” 

Absalom’s men looked for them, without success, and returned to Jerusalem. 

Then, the two men crawled out, of the well, and hurried on, to King David. 

“Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” 

And they told him, how Ahithophel had advised, that he be captured and killed. 

So, David, and all the people, with him, went across the Jordan River, during the night, and they were all, on the other bank, before dawn. 

When Ahithophel realized, that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. 

He died there, and was buried, in the family tomb. 

David soon arrived, at Mahanaim. 

By now, Absalom had mobilized, the entire army of Israel, and was leading his troops, across the Jordan River. 

Absalom had appointed Amasa, as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. 

Amasa was Joab’s cousin. 

His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. 

His mother, Abigail the daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.

Absalom, and the Israelite, army set up camp, in the land of Gilead. 

When David arrived, at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted, by Shobi, son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah, of the Ammonites, and by Makir, son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar, and by Barzi-llai, of Gilead, from Rogelim. 

They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese, for David, and those who were with him. 

For they said, 

“You must all be very hungry, and tired, and thirsty, after your long march, through the wilderness.” 

2 Samuel 17:15–29 (NLT)

Praise be to God!