2 Samuel 17:9
New International Version
Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’

New Living Translation
He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered.

English Standard Version
Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Berean Standard Bible
Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’

King James Bible
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

New King James Version
Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

New American Standard Bible
Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’

NASB 1995
“Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

NASB 1977
“Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Amplified Bible
Behold, he has hidden himself [even] now in one of the ravines or in another place; and when some of your troops fall at the first attack, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a defeat among the people who follow Absalom.’

Christian Standard Bible
He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves or some other place. If some of our troops fall first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves or some other place. If some of our troops fall first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

American Standard Version
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

Contemporary English Version
He has probably already found a hiding place in a cave or somewhere else. As soon as anyone hears that some of your soldiers have been killed, everyone will think your whole army has been destroyed.

English Revised Version
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He has already hidden in one of the ravines or some other place. If some of our soldiers are killed in the initial attack, others will definitely hear about it and say, 'The troops that support Absalom have been defeated.'

Good News Translation
Right now he is probably hiding in a cave or some other place. As soon as David attacks your men, whoever hears about it will say that your men have been defeated.

International Standard Version
Look! He's probably already hiding in a cave or someplace like that. If the first attack fails, people will hear about it and think, 'Absalom's army is losing!'

Majority Standard Bible
Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’

NET Bible
At this very moment he is hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place. If it should turn out that he attacks our troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'Absalom's army has been slaughtered!'

New Heart English Bible
Look, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will happen when some of them have fallen first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

World English Bible
Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
behold, now, he is hidden in one of the pits, or in one of the places, and it has been at the falling among them at the commencement, that the hearer has heard and said, There has been a slaughter among the people who [are] after Absalom;

Young's Literal Translation
lo, now, he is hidden in one of the pits, or in one of the places, and it hath been, at the falling among them at the commencement, that the hearer hath heard, and said, There hath been a slaughter among the people who are after Absalom;

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold now, he hid in one of the pits, or in one of the places: and it being when there fell among them in the beginning, and he hearing heard and said, was a slaughter among the people which are after Absalom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Perhaps he now lieth hid in pits, or in some other place where he list: and when any one shall fall at the first, every one that heareth it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that followed Absalom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Perhaps now he hides in pits, or in another place, wherever he wills. And if by chance, in the beginning, anyone may fall, whoever hears about it, no matter what he has heard, will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who were following Absalom.’

New American Bible
Even now he lies hidden in one of the caves or in one of his other places. And if some of our soldiers should fall at the first attack, whoever hears of it will say, ‘Absalom’s followers have been slaughtered.’

New Revised Standard Version
Even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits, or in some other place. And when some of our troops fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold now, he has hidden in one of the countries or in some other place; and when we attack them according to the first counsel, then the rumor will spread that there has been a great slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, he is hidden in one of the countries or in one of the places, and whenever we fall on them, as at the first, and the report is heard that there has been slaughter among the people who follow after Abishlum
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some place; and it will come to pass, when they fall upon them at the first, and whosoever heareth it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For, behold, he is now hidden in one of the hills or in some other place: and it shall come to pass when he falls upon them at the beginning, that some one will certainly hear, and say, There has been a slaughter among the people that follow after Abessalom.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hushai Counters Ahithophel's Advice
8He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. 9Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.…

Cross References
Judges 9:32-33
Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields. / And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

1 Samuel 23:23
Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

1 Samuel 22:1
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

1 Samuel 24:3
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.

1 Samuel 26:1-2
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” / So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

Joshua 8:4-7
with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. / Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. / They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them, ...

1 Kings 20:29-30
For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. / The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.

2 Kings 2:24
Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

2 Chronicles 18:33-34
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!” / The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. And at sunset he died.

Psalm 10:9
He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.

Psalm 17:12
like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

Psalm 91:1-3
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. / I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” / Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague.

Proverbs 1:11-12
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Isaiah 10:18-19
The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. / The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them.

Jeremiah 49:8
Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

he is hid

Judges 20:33
And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.

1 Samuel 22:1
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

1 Samuel 24:3
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

some

Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

Joshua 8:6
(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

Judges 20:32
And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

over thrown [heb] fallen

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Absalom Ab'salom Attack Cave Caves Fall Fallen Falls First Follow Heareth Hears Hid Hidden Overthrown Pit Slaughter Troops
2 Samuel 17
1. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's
15. Secret intelligence is sent unto David
23. Ahithophel hangs himself
25. Amasa is made captain
27. David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions














Behold
The Hebrew word for "behold" is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which serves as an attention-grabbing term, urging the listener or reader to pay close attention to what follows. In the context of this verse, it emphasizes the urgency and importance of the information being conveyed. It is a call to awareness, suggesting that the situation is critical and requires immediate consideration.

he is now hiding
The phrase "he is now hiding" refers to David's strategic retreat. The Hebrew root "חָבָא" (chaba) means to hide or conceal. This reflects David's tactical acumen, as he often used the terrain to his advantage. Historically, David was known for his guerrilla warfare tactics, which involved using the natural landscape for protection and surprise attacks. This phrase underscores David's wisdom and experience in evading capture and preparing for counterattacks.

in one of the caves
Caves in ancient Israel were natural fortresses and places of refuge. The Judean wilderness, where David often sought refuge, is dotted with numerous caves. These natural formations provided shelter and strategic advantage. The mention of caves highlights the rugged and challenging terrain of the region, which David used to his benefit. It also symbolizes a place of divine protection, as God often provided refuge for His anointed in times of trouble.

or some other place
This phrase suggests uncertainty and the difficulty in pinpointing David's exact location. The Hebrew word "מָקוֹם" (maqom) means place or location. It reflects the elusive nature of David's movements, making it challenging for his enemies to track him. This uncertainty would have been a source of anxiety for Absalom's forces, as it made David's next move unpredictable.

If he attacks your troops first
The conditional "if" introduces a potential scenario, emphasizing the element of surprise in warfare. The Hebrew root "פָּגַע" (paga) means to meet or encounter, often with hostile intent. This phrase highlights the tactical advantage of a preemptive strike, which could demoralize Absalom's forces. It underscores the importance of initiative in battle, a principle that David understood well.

whoever hears of it will say
This phrase indicates the spread of news and the impact of reputation in warfare. The Hebrew root "שָׁמַע" (shama) means to hear or listen. In ancient times, news traveled quickly by word of mouth, and the morale of troops could be significantly affected by reports of victory or defeat. This phrase underscores the psychological aspect of warfare, where perception can influence the outcome as much as actual events.

There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom
The word "slaughter" comes from the Hebrew "מַכָּה" (makkah), meaning a blow or defeat. This phrase paints a vivid picture of the potential devastation that could befall Absalom's forces. It serves as a warning of the consequences of underestimating David. Historically, David's men were seasoned warriors, and a surprise attack could indeed lead to a significant defeat for Absalom. This phrase highlights the stakes involved and the potential for a decisive turning point in the conflict.

Verse 9. - When some of them be overthrown at the first; Hebrew, in the falling on them; that is, at the first onslaught of David's champions. Even though overpowered finally by force of numbers, they are sure to make a large slaughter at first, which may easily lead to a panic.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Surely
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

by now
עַתָּ֤ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

he
הֽוּא־ (hū-)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is hiding
נֶחְבָּא֙ (neḥ·bā)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2244: To withdraw, hide

in a
בְּאַחַ֣ת (bə·’a·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-b | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

cave
הַפְּחָתִ֔ים (hap·pə·ḥā·ṯîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6354: A pit, for, catching animals

or
א֖וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

some other
בְּאַחַ֣ד (bə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

location.
הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת (ham·mə·qō·w·mōṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

If some of your troops fall
כִּנְפֹ֤ל (kin·p̄ōl)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

first,
בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה (bat·tə·ḥil·lāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8462: A commencement, rel, original

whoever hears [of it]
וְשָׁמַ֤ע (wə·šā·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

will say,
וְאָמַ֔ר (wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘There
הָֽיְתָה֙ (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

has been
וְהָיָ֗ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a slaughter
מַגֵּפָ֔ה (mag·gê·p̄āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4046: A blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence

among the troops
בָּעָ֕ם (bā·‘ām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

who
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

follow
אַחֲרֵ֥י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

Absalom.’
אַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ (’aḇ·šā·lōm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites


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OT History: 2 Samuel 17:9 Behold he is hid now in some (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:8
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