2 Samuel 17:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hushai urges that David be told at once to cross the Jordan that night, lest he and his people be destroyed.
What Does 2 Samuel 17:16 Mean?
Hushai sends an urgent charge: David must not linger in the wilderness plains but cross the Jordan without delay, 'lest the king be swallowed up.' Even with God's favor secured, the danger is real and the hour is short.
The warning shows love in action, refusing to presume on grace by sitting still. To be 'swallowed up' is the language of sudden ruin, and Hushai will not risk it. So the faithful, knowing the Lord protects, still rouse one another to move. Divine deliverance and human urgency walk together through this night toward the safety of the far shore.
2 Samuel 17:16 in the Original Language
bala (בָּלַע), 'swallowed up' -- to be engulfed or destroyed suddenly and completely.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 17:16
What does 2 Samuel 17:16 mean?
Hushai urges that David be told at once to cross the Jordan that night, lest he and his people be destroyed.