NET Bible
"His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done."
— 2 Samuel 17:19, NET Bible
“And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.”
“And the woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known. ”
“The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and spread out bruised grain on it; and nothing was known.”
“And a woman took, and spread a covering over the mouth of the well, as it were to dry sodden barley and so the thing was not known.”
“And a woman put a cover over the hole, and put crushed grain on top of it, and no one had any knowledge of it.”
“And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.”
Now send word quickly to David and warn him,“Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.”
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city.
But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it.
His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done.
When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked,“Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied to them,“They crossed over the stream.” Absalom’s men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David,“Get up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.”
So David and all the people who were with him got up and crossed the Jordan River. By dawn there was not one person left who had not crossed the Jordan.