Text -- 2 Samuel 17:23-29 (NET)

17:23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father. 17:24 Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River. 17:25 Absalom had made Amasa general in command of the army in place of Joab. (Now Amasa was the son of an Israelite man named Jether, who had married Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.) 17:26 The army of Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 17:27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 17:28 brought bedding, basins, and pottery utensils. They also brought food for David and all who were with him, including wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, 17:29 honey, curds, flocks, and cheese. For they said, “The people are no doubt hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the desert.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Sa 17:23

¹ tc The Greek recensions of Origen and Lucian have here “house” for “grave.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 17:25

¹ tn Heb “come to.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 17:26

¹ tn Heb “and Israel.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 17:28

¹ tc The MT adds “roasted grain” וְקָלִי (vÿqali) at the end of v. 28, apparently accidentally repeating the word from its earlier occurrence in this verse. With the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and an Old Latin ms the translation deletes this second occurrence of the word.

NET Notes: 2Sa 17:29

¹ tn Heb “cheese of the herd,” probably referring to cheese from cow’s milk (rather than goat’s milk).

² tn Or “wilderness” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT).