But 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. But a young man did see them and told Absalom.This phrase highlights the precarious nature of espionage and the constant threat of exposure. In the context of Absalom's rebellion against King David, the young man represents the ever-present danger of being discovered. The mention of Absalom underscores the tension and division within Israel at this time, as Absalom sought to usurp his father David's throne. This incident reflects the broader theme of loyalty and betrayal that runs throughout the narrative of David's reign. The young man's actions also serve as a reminder of the vigilance required in times of political upheaval. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim.
The two men referred to here are Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who were acting as messengers for David. Their quick departure indicates the urgency and danger of their mission. Bahurim is a village in the territory of Benjamin, east of Jerusalem. It is significant as a place of refuge and danger; previously, Shimei cursed David here (2 Samuel 16:5-13). The choice of Bahurim as a hiding place suggests a network of loyal supporters to David, even in areas that might be hostile. This reflects the divided loyalties within the kingdom during Absalom's rebellion. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
The well in the courtyard serves as a hiding place, illustrating the resourcefulness and quick thinking required in times of crisis. Wells were common features in ancient Near Eastern homes, often used for water storage, but here it becomes a means of concealment. This act of hiding in a well can be seen as a type of Christ, who often withdrew to solitary places for prayer and safety (Luke 5:16). The imagery of descending into a well also evokes themes of death and resurrection, as wells are deep and dark, yet they provide life-sustaining water. This can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and deliverance experienced by God's people. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbsalomThe son of King David who rebelled against his father, seeking to usurp the throne of Israel. 2. The Young ManAn unnamed individual who observed the two messengers and reported their presence to Absalom. 3. The Two MessengersJonathan and Ahimaaz, who were loyal to King David and were carrying a message to him. 4. BahurimA village in the territory of Benjamin, known for its strategic location and its role in various biblical accounts. 5. The Man with the WellAn unnamed ally of David who provided refuge to Jonathan and Ahimaaz by hiding them in his well. Teaching Points Loyalty in Times of CrisisJonathan and Ahimaaz demonstrate loyalty to David, risking their lives to deliver crucial information. In our lives, we are called to be loyal to God and His purposes, even when it is risky or inconvenient. Divine ProvidenceThe well in Bahurim serves as a symbol of God's providence, providing a means of escape and protection. We can trust that God will provide for us in unexpected ways during our times of need. The Role of the Faithful RemnantThe unnamed man in Bahurim represents the faithful remnant who support God's anointed. We are encouraged to be part of this remnant, offering support and refuge to those who are serving God's purposes. The Power of ObservationThe young man's observation and subsequent report to Absalom remind us of the impact our actions and words can have. We should be mindful of how we use our influence and strive to act in ways that align with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How do Jonathan and Ahimaaz's actions reflect the importance of loyalty and courage in our own spiritual journeys? 2. In what ways can we see God's providence at work in our lives, similar to the protection provided by the well in Bahurim? 3. How can we identify and support the "faithful remnant" in our communities today? 4. What lessons can we learn from the young man's actions about the power of observation and the responsibility that comes with it? 5. How does the account of Jonathan and Ahimaaz connect with other biblical accounts of divine protection and deliverance, such as the account of Rahab in Joshua 2? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Samuel 15-16Provides context for Absalom's rebellion and the political intrigue surrounding David's flight from Jerusalem. Joshua 2The account of Rahab hiding the Israelite spies, which parallels the hiding of Jonathan and Ahimaaz, illustrating themes of loyalty and divine protection. Psalm 55David's lament during Absalom's rebellion, expressing his anguish and trust in God's deliverance. People Abiathar, Abigail, Absalom, Ahimaaz, Ahithophel, Amasa, Ammiel, Ammonites, Arkite, Barzillai, Dan, David, Hushai, Ithra, Jesse, Jether, Joab, Jonathan, Machir, Nahash, Shobi, Zadok, ZeruiahPlaces Bahurim, Beersheba, Dan, En-rogel, Gilead, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Lo-debar, Mahanaim, Rabbah, RogelimTopics Absalom, Ab'salom, Bahurim, Bahu'rim, Boy, Climbed, Court, Courtyard, Declareth, Departed, Descended, Garden, Hastily, Lad, Man's, Nevertheless, Quickly, Thither, Water-hole, Whither, YouthDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 17:18 5271 courtyard Library "The King Kissed Barzillai. " 2 Sam. xix. 39
And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and so does David's Lord. I.--LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS. In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land which brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely hospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice, and …
Thomas Champness—Broken BreadThe Nations of the South-East
Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the …
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations Barzillai
BY REV. GEORGE MILLIGAN, M.A., D.D. "There is nothing," says Socrates to Cephalus in the Republic, "I like better than conversing with aged men. For I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom it is right to learn the character of the way, whether it is rugged or difficult, or smooth and easy" (p. 328 E.). It is to such an aged traveller that we are introduced in the person of Barzillai the Gileadite. And though he is one of the lesser-known characters …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Continued.
In addition to the psalms already considered, which are devoted to the devout contemplation of nature, and stand in close connection with David's early days, there still remains one universally admitted to be his. The twenty-ninth psalm, like both the preceding, has to do with the glory of God as revealed in the heavens, and with earth only as the recipient of skyey influences; but while these breathed the profoundest tranquillity, as they watched the silent splendour of the sun, and the peace of …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David David and Jonathan's Son
'And David said, is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 2. And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4. And the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Mr. John Bunyan's Dying Sayings.
OF SIN. Sin is the great block and bar to our happiness, the procurer of all miseries to man, both here and hereafter: take away sin and nothing can hurt us: for death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, is the wages of it. Sin, and man for sin, is the object of the wrath of God. How dreadful, therefore, must his case be who continues in sin! For who can bear or grapple with the wrath of God? No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of heaven and earth; but if the sinner …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Letter xxxvi (Circa A. D. 1131) to the Same Hildebert, who had not yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope.
To the Same Hildebert, Who Had Not Yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope. He exhorts him to recognise Innocent, now an exile in France, owing to the schism of Peter Leonis, as the rightful Pontiff. To the great prelate, most exalted in renown, Hildebert, by the grace of God Archbishop of Tours, Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, sends greeting, and prays that he may walk in the Spirit, and spiritually discern all things. 1. To address you in the words of the prophet, Consolation is hid from …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, K ING OF K INGS AND L ORD OF L ORDS T he description of the administration and glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom, in defiance of all opposition, concludes the second part of Messiah Oratorio. Three different passages from the book of Revelation are selected to form a grand chorus, of which Handel's title in this verse is the close --a title which has been sometimes vainly usurped by proud worms of this earth. Eastern monarchs, in particular, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 17:18 NIV2 Samuel 17:18 NLT2 Samuel 17:18 ESV2 Samuel 17:18 NASB2 Samuel 17:18 KJV
2 Samuel 17:18 Commentaries
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