2 Samuel 17
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)
17 Ajitófel dijo a Absalón:
— Déjame escoger doce mil hombres para salir en persecución de David esta misma noche. 2 Lo sorprenderé agotado y sin fuerzas, lo intimidaré, y sus acompañantes huirán. Así mataré sólo al rey 3 y haré volver contigo a toda la gente que lo acompaña. La muerte de aquel a quien buscas provocará la vuelta de todos, y todo el pueblo quedará en paz.
4 El consejo agradó a Absalón y a todos los ancianos de Israel. 5 Pero Absalón dijo:
— Llamen también a Jusay, el arquita, para que oigamos igualmente su opinión.
6 Cuando Jusay llegó ante Absalón, este le dijo:
— Esto es lo que nos ha propuesto Ajitófel. ¿Debemos hacer lo que él dice? Si no, haz tu propuesta.
7 Jusay le respondió:
— Por esta vez no es acertado el consejo que ha dado Ajitófel.
8 Y añadió:
— Tú sabes bien que tu padre y sus hombres son unos valientes y que ahora estarán enfurecidos, como una osa privada de sus crías en el campo. Tu padre es un hombre ducho en la guerra y no pasará la noche con la tropa. 9 Seguramente ahora estará escondido en alguna cueva o en algún otro lugar. Si en las primeras escaramuzas tenemos bajas, se correrá la noticia de que ha habido pérdidas entre los seguidores de Absalón, 10 y entonces hasta los más valientes, aunque sean fieros como leones, se acobardarán. Porque todo Israel sabe que tu padre es un valiente y los que lo acompañan, unos aguerridos. 11 Por eso, yo aconsejo que se reúnan contigo todos los israelitas desde Dan hasta Berseba, tan numerosos como la arena de las playas, y que tú personalmente los lleves al combate. 12 Entonces lo alcanzaremos allí donde se encuentre y caeremos sobre él, como rocío sobre la tierra, y no quedarán vivos ni él, ni ninguno de todos los que lo acompañan. 13 Y si se refugia en alguna ciudad, todos los israelitas llevarán cuerdas a esa ciudad y la arrastraremos hasta el río, hasta que no quede allí ni una piedra.
14 Absalón y todos los israelitas dijeron:
— El consejo de Jusay el arquita es mejor que el de Ajitófel.
Y es que el Señor había decidido hacer fracasar el consejo de Ajitófel, que era el mejor, para atraer la desgracia sobre Absalón.
15 Luego Jusay dijo a los sacerdotes Sadoc y Abiatar:
— Ajitófel ha aconsejado esto a Absalón y a los ancianos de Israel y yo les he aconsejado esto otro. 16 Así que, envíen urgentemente a alguien para que informe a David y le diga: “No pases la noche en los vados del desierto; cruza al otro lado”, para evitar que aniquilen al rey y a toda la gente que lo acompaña.
17 Jonatán y Ajimás estaban en la fuente de Roguel y, como si entraban en la ciudad alguien podía verlos, una sirvienta iba a informarles, para que ellos llevasen la información al rey David. 18 Pero un muchacho los descubrió e informó a Absalón. Entonces los dos se fueron rápidamente y entraron en la casa de un hombre de Bajurín, que tenía un pozo en el patio, y se metieron en él. 19 La mujer extendió una estera sobre la boca del pozo, echó encima trigo y no se notaba nada. 20 Llegaron los servidores de Absalón a casa de la mujer y le preguntaron:
— ¿Dónde están Ajimás y Jonatán?
La mujer les respondió:
— Han ido hacia el agua.
Ellos los buscaron y, al no encontrarlos, regresaron a Jerusalén. 21 Después de marcharse salieron ellos del pozo y fueron a informar al rey David:
— Prepárense a cruzar inmediatamente el río, porque Ajitófel ha dado este consejo contra ustedes.
22 David y la gente que lo acompañaba se pusieron a cruzar el Jordán y al amanecer no quedaba ninguno que no hubiese cruzado el río.
23 Cuando Ajitófel vio que no ponían en práctica su consejo, aparejó el burro y se marchó a casa, a su ciudad. Luego puso en orden su casa, se ahorcó y murió, siendo enterrado en el sepulcro de su padre.
La batalla de Transjordania: muerte de Absalón
24 Cuando David llegaba a Majanáin, Absalón cruzó el Jordán con todos los israelitas que lo acompañaban. 25 Absalón había puesto al frente del ejército a Amasá, en lugar de Joab. Amasá era hijo de un hombre llamado Jitrá, un ismaelita que se había unido a Abigal, hija de Najás y hermana de Seruyá, la madre de Joab. 26 Israel y Absalón acamparon en el territorio de Galaad.
27 Cuando David llegó a Majanáin, Sobí, hijo de Najás, de Rabá de Amón, junto con Maquir, hijo de Amiel de Lodebar y Barzilay, galadita de Roguelín, 28 trajeron colchones, mantas, cacharros de barro, trigo, cebada, harina, grano tostado, alubias, lentejas, 29 miel, requesón de oveja y queso de vaca, y se lo ofrecieron a David y a la gente que lo acompañaba para que comieran, pensando que estarían hambrientos, fatigados y sedientos de andar por el desierto.
2 Samuel 17
Living Bible
17 “Now,” Ahithophel said, “give me twelve thousand men to start out after David tonight. 2-3 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged, and he and his troops will be thrown into a panic and everyone will run away; and I will kill only the king and let all those who are with him live, and restore them to you.”
4 Absalom and all the elders of Israel approved of the plan, 5 but Absalom said, “Ask Hushai the Archite what he thinks about this.”
6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said.
“What is your opinion?” Absalom asked him. “Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, speak up.”
7 “Well,” Hushai replied, “this time I think Ahithophel has made a mistake. 8 You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors and are probably as upset as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And your father is an old soldier and isn’t going to be spending the night among the troops; 9 he has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops and everyone will start shouting that your men are being slaughtered. 10 Then even the bravest of them, though they have hearts of lions, will be paralyzed with fear; for all Israel knows what a mighty man your father is and how courageous his soldiers are.
11 “What I suggest is that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan and Beersheba, so that you will have a huge force. And I think that you should personally lead the troops. 12 Then when we find him we can destroy his entire army so that not one of them is left alive. 13 And if David has escaped into some city, you will have the entire army of Israel there at your command, and we can take ropes and drag the walls of the city into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”
14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had arranged to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster upon Absalom! 15 Then Hushai reported to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said and what he himself had suggested instead.
16 “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the ford of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond; otherwise he will die, and his entire army with him.”
17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to carry to them the messages they were to take to King David. 18 But a boy saw them leaving En-rogel to go to David, and he told Absalom about it. Meanwhile, they escaped to Bahurim where a man hid them inside a well in his backyard. 19 The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well with grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.
20 When Absalom’s men arrived and asked her if she had seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan, she said they had crossed the brook and were gone. They looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem. 21 Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed. 22 So David and all the people with him went across during the night and were all on the other bank before dawn.
23 Meanwhile, Ahithophel—publicly disgraced when Absalom refused his advice—saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself; so he died and was buried beside his father.
24 David soon arrived at Mahanaim. Meanwhile, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading the men across the Jordan River. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa as general of the army, replacing Joab. (Amasa was Joab’s second cousin; his father was Ithra, an Ishmaelite, and his mother was Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, who was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.) 26 Absalom and the Israeli army now camped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi (son of Nahash of Rabbah, an Ammonite) and Machir (son of Ammiel of Lodebar) and Barzillai (a Gileadite of Rogelim). 28-29 They brought him and those who were with him mats to sleep on, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, and cheese. For they said, “You must be very tired and hungry and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”
2 Samuel 17
New International Version
17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak.(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king(B) 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai(C) the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.(D) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;(E) he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.(F) If he should attack your troops first,[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,(G) will melt(H) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.(I)
11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba(J)—as numerous as the sand(K) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley(L) until not so much as a pebble is left.”
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice(M) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”(N) For the Lord had determined to frustrate(O) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster(P) on Absalom.(Q)
15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16 Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;(R) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.(S)’”
17 Jonathan(T) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.(U) A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.(V) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.(W)
20 When Absalom’s men came to the woman(X) at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”[c] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21 After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice(Y) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order(Z) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Absalom’s Death
24 David went to Mahanaim,(AA) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa(AB) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,[d](AC) an Ishmaelite[e] who had married Abigail,[f] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash(AD) from Rabbah(AE) of the Ammonites, and Makir(AF) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai(AG) the Gileadite(AH) from Rogelim 28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[g] 29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.(AI) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.(AJ)”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 17:1 Or Let me
- 2 Samuel 17:9 Or When some of the men fall at the first attack
- 2 Samuel 17:20 Or “They passed by the sheep pen toward the water.”
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Ithra, a variant of Jether
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 2:17); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Israelite
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Hebrew Abigal, a variant of Abigail
- 2 Samuel 17:28 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew lentils, and roasted grain
2 Samuel 17
King James Version
17 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
16 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.
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20 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.
21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España
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