2 Samuel 17:20 net — When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked,“Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman r…

NET Bible

"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."

— 2 Samuel 17:20, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

2 Samuel 17:20 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.”

  • ASV

    “And Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ”

  • WEB

    “Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.”

  • DRB

    “And when Absalom's servants were come into the house, they said to the woman: Where is Achimaas and Jonathan? and the woman answered them: They passed on in haste, after they had tasted a little water. But they that sought them, when they found them not, returned into Jerusalem.”

  • BBE

    “And Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone from here to the stream. And after searching for them, and seeing nothing of them, they went back to Jerusalem.”

  • KJVA

    “And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.”

2 Samuel 17 — Context

17

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.

18

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.

19

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.

20

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.

21

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.”

22

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.

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.

2 Samuel 17:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 17:20 say?
2 Samuel 17:20 in the NET Bible reads: “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.”
Where is 2 Samuel 17:20 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 17:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 17, verse 20.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 17:20.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 17:20 in?
2 Samuel 17:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 17:20?
2 Samuel 17:20 reads (NET): “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.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2