2 Samuel 17:16

17:16 Now send word quickly to David and warn him, ¹  “Don’t spend the night at the fords of the desert ²  tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, ³  or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.” ⁴ 

2 Samuel 17:21

17:21 After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan ⁵  climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, “Get up and cross the stream ⁶  quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.” ⁷ 

¹ tn Heb “send quickly and tell David saying.”

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

³ tn That is, “cross over the Jordan River.”

⁴ tn Heb “swallowed up.”

⁵ tn Heb “they”; the referents (Ahimaaz and Jonathan) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn Heb “the water.”

⁷ tn Heb “for thus Ahithophel has devised against you.” The expression “thus” is narrative shorthand, referring to the plan outlined by Ahithophel (see vv. 1-3). The men would surely have outlined the plan in as much detail as they had been given by the messenger.