2 Samuel 17 – NIV & NEN

New International Version

2 Samuel 17:1-29

1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would17:1 Or Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

5But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” 6When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

7Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. 9Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first,17:9 Or When some of the men fall at the first attack whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.

11“So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left.”

14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

15Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”

17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.

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

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”17:20 Or “They passed by the sheep pen toward the water.” The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

21After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Absalom’s Death

24David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether an Ishmaelite17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite who had married Abigail,17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 28brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain 29honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Kiswahili Contemporary Version

2 Samweli 17:1-29

1Ahithofeli akamwambia Absalomu, “Nipe ruhusa niwachague watu kumi na mbili elfu na waanze safari usiku huu huu kumfuatia Daudi. 217:2 2Sam 16:14; 1Fal 22:31; Zek 13:7; Kut 25:18; Yn 11:50; Mt 21:38Nitamshambulia wakati akiwa amechoka na ni dhaifu. Nitampiga na hofu, na kisha watu wote walio pamoja naye watakimbia. Nitampiga mfalme peke yake 317:3 Yer 6:14na kuwarudisha watu wote kwako. Kifo cha mtu yule unayemtafuta kitamaanisha kurudi kwa wote, hakuna hata mtu mmoja atakayeumizwa.” 4Mpango huu ulionekana mzuri kwa Absalomu na kwa wazee wote wa Israeli.

517:5 2Sam 15:32Lakini Absalomu akasema, “Pia mwiteni Hushai, Mwariki, ili tuweze kusikia anachokisema.” 6Hushai alipokuja, Absalomu akasema, “Ahithofeli ametoa shauri hili. Je, tufanye anavyosema? Kama sivyo, tupe maoni yako.”

7Hushai akamjibu Absalomu, “Shauri la Ahithofeli alilotoa halifai kwa wakati huu. 817:8 Hos 13:8; 1Sam 16:18; Amu 18:25Unamfahamu baba yako na watu wake, ni wapiganaji hodari, nao ni wakali kama dubu mwitu aliyepokonywa watoto wake. Zaidi ya hayo, baba yako ni mpiganaji jasiri, usiku hatalala pamoja na vikosi. 917:9 Yer 41:9Hata sasa, amefichwa ndani ya pango au mahali pengine. Kama atatangulia kushambulia vikosi vyako, yeyote asikiaye habari hii atasema, ‘Kuna machinjo makubwa miongoni mwa vikosi vinavyomfuata Absalomu.’ 1017:10 1Nya 12:8; Yos 2:9-11; Eze 21:15; 2Sam 23:8; 1Nya 11:11Basi hata yule askari hodari kuliko wengine wote, ambaye moyo wake ni kama wa simba, atayeyuka kwa hofu, kwa maana Israeli yote wanajua kwamba baba yako ni mpiganaji na kwamba wale walio pamoja naye ni watu hodari.

1117:11 Amu 20:1; Mwa 12:2; Yos 11:4; Mwa 22:17“Kwa hiyo nakushauri: Israeli wote na wakusanyikie kwako, kuanzia Dani hadi Beer-Sheba, katika wingi wao jinsi walivyo kama mchanga wa ufuoni mwa bahari, wewe mwenyewe ukiwaongoza vitani. 12Ndipo tutakapomshambulia popote atakapoonekana, nasi tutamwangukia kama umande unavyoshuka juu ya ardhi. Yeye mwenyewe wala watu wake hakuna atakayeachwa hai. 1317:13 Mik 1:6Kama atakimbilia katika mji wowote, basi Israeli wote watazungushia mji ule kamba, nasi tutauburuta mji huo mpaka bondeni hadi isionekane hata changarawe ya huo mji.”

1417:14 2Sam 16:23; 15:12; 15:34; Neh 4:15; Za 9:16; 2Nya 10:8Absalomu na watu wote wa Israeli wakasema, “Shauri la Hushai, Mwariki, ni jema zaidi kuliko lile la Ahithofeli.” Kwa maana Bwana alikuwa amekusudia kupinga shauri nzuri la Ahithofeli, ili kuleta maafa juu ya Absalomu.

15Hushai akawaambia makuhani Sadoki na Abiathari, “Ahithofeli amemshauri Absalomu na wazee wa Israeli kufanya kadha wa kadha, lakini mimi nimewashauri wao kufanya kadha wa kadha. 1617:16 2Sam 15:28-35Sasa tumeni ujumbe haraka na kumwambia Daudi, ‘Usiku huu usilale kwenye vivuko katika jangwa; vuka bila kukosa, la sivyo, mfalme pamoja na watu wote waliofuatana naye watamezwa.’ ”

1717:17 2Sam 15:27, 36; Ay 15:7; 18:16; 1Fal 1:9; Yos 2:4; 15:7Yonathani na Ahimaasi walikuwa wakingoja huko En-Rogeli, naye mtumishi mmoja wa kike akawa anakwenda kuwapasha habari nao wakawa wanakwenda kumwambia Mfalme Daudi, kwa maana wasingetaka kujihatarisha kuonekana wakiingia mjini. 1817:18 2Sam 3:16; 16:5Lakini kijana mmoja mwanaume akawaona, naye akamwambia Absalomu. Basi wote wawili wakaondoka haraka, wakaenda mpaka kwenye nyumba ya mtu mmoja huko Bahurimu. Mtu huyo alikuwa na kisima katika ua wa nyumba yake, nao Yonathani na Ahimaasi wakateremka ndani ya kisima hicho. 1917:19 Yos 2:9Mkewe akachukua kifuniko, akakiweka kwenye mdomo wa kile kisima na kuanika nafaka juu yake. Hakuna mtu yeyote aliyefahamu chochote kuhusu jambo hilo.

2017:20 Kut 1:19; Yos 2:3-5; 1Sam 19:12-18; 21:2Watu wa Absalomu walipofika kwa huyo mwanamke, wakamuuliza, “Wako wapi Ahimaasi na Yonathani?”

Huyo mwanamke akawajibu, “Walivuka kijito.” Watu wa Absalomu wakapekua lakini hawakuwaona hata mmoja, hivyo wakarudi Yerusalemu.

21Baada ya watu hao kuondoka, wale watu wawili yaani Yonathani na Ahimaasi wakapanda kutoka mle kisimani na kwenda kumpasha Mfalme Daudi habari. Wakamwambia, “Ondoka, uvuke haya maji haraka. Ahithofeli ameshauri kadha wa kadha dhidi yako.” 22Kwa hiyo Daudi na watu wote aliokuwa nao waliondoka na kuvuka Yordani. Kufika wakati wa mapambazuko, hapakuwa na mtu hata mmoja ambaye alikuwa hajavuka Mto Yordani.

2317:23 2Sam 16:23; 2Fal 20:1; 2Sam 15:12; Mt 27:5; Za 55:23; Ay 31:3Ahithofeli alipoona kwamba shauri lake halikufuatwa, akatandika punda wake, akaondoka kwenda nyumbani kwake kwenye mji wake. Akaiweka nyumba yake katika utaratibu, kisha akajinyonga mwenyewe. Hivyo akafa na akazikwa katika kaburi la baba yake.

2417:24 Mwa 32:2; 2Sam 2:8; Yos 13:26Daudi akaenda Mahanaimu, naye Absalomu akavuka Yordani pamoja na watu wote wa Israeli. 2517:25 2Sam 19:13; 20:4-12; 1Fal 2:5, 32; 1Nya 12:18; 2:13-17Absalomu alikuwa amemweka Amasa juu ya jeshi badala ya Yoabu. Amasa alikuwa mwana wa mtu mmoja aliyeitwa Yetheri, Mwisraeli, ambaye alikuwa amemwoa Abigaili binti Nahashi, dada yake Seruya mamaye Yoabu. 26Waisraeli na Absalomu wakapiga kambi huko nchi ya Gileadi.

2717:27 1Sam 11:1; Kum 3:11; 2Sam 9:4; 19:31-39; 1Fal 2:7; Ezr 2:61; 2Sam 12:30Daudi alipofika Mahanaimu, Shobi mwana wa Nahashi kutoka Raba ya Waamoni, Makiri mwana wa Amieli kutoka Lo-Debari, na Barzilai Mgileadi kutoka Rogelimu 2817:28 1Sam 25:18; Mit 11:25; Mt 5:7wakaleta matandiko ya kitandani, mabakuli na vyombo vya mfinyanzi. Walileta pia ngano na shayiri, unga na bisi, maharagwe na kunde, 2917:29 1Nya 12:40; 2Sam 16:2; Rum 12:13; Kut 15:7; Amu 8:4-6; Za 34:8-10asali na maziwa yaliyoganda, kondoo na jibini kutoka kwenye maziwa ya ngʼombe kwa ajili ya Daudi na watu wake ili wale. Kwa maana walisema, “Watu wameona njaa, tena wamechoka na wamepata kiu huko jangwani.”