2 Samuel 17:12
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.

English Standard Version
So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left.

Berean Standard Bible
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

New American Standard Bible
Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

NASB 1995
“So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

NASB 1977
“So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

Legacy Standard Bible
So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will set down on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

Amplified Bible
So shall we come upon David in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls [unseen and unheard] on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

Christian Standard Bible
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. Not even one will be left—neither he nor any of the men with him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. Not even one will be left of all the men with him.

American Standard Version
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 we will not leave so much as one.

Contemporary English Version
and we will all go to fight David wherever he is. We will fall on him just as dew falls and covers the ground. He and all his soldiers will die!

English Revised Version
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 we will not leave so much as one.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then we'll attack him wherever we find him. We'll fall on him as dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left [alive].

Good News Translation
We will find David wherever he is, and attack him before he knows what's happening. Neither he nor any of his men will survive.

International Standard Version
We'll go find David wherever he's hiding. We'll fall on him like dew on the ground! We'll kill him and all of his men, and we won't leave even one man alive!

Majority Standard Bible
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

NET Bible
We will come against him wherever he happens to be found. We will descend on him like the dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of the men who are with him will be spared alive--not one of them!

New Heart English Bible
So we will come upon him in some place where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
So we will come on him in some place where he will be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground, then we will not leave so much as one of him and of all the men who are with him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and we have come to him in one of the places where he is found, and we [are] on him as the dew falls on the ground, and there has not been left of him and of all the men who [are] with him even one.

Young's Literal Translation
and we have come in unto him in one of the places where he is found, and we are upon him as the dew falleth on the ground, and there hath not been left of him and of all the men who are with him even one.

Smith's Literal Translation
And we came upon him in one of the places which we shall find there, and we upon him as the dew will fall upon the earth: and we will not leave of him and of all the men which are with him, even one.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And we shall come upon him in what place soever he shall be found: and we shall cover him, as the dew falleth upon the ground, and we shall not leave of the men that are with him, not so much as one.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And we shall rush against him in whatever place he will have been found. And we shall cover him, as the dew usually falls upon the ground. And we shall not leave behind even one of the men who are with him.

New American Bible
We can then attack him wherever we find him, settling down upon him as dew alights on the ground. None shall survive—neither he nor any of his followers.

New Revised Standard Version
So we shall come upon him in whatever place he may be found, and we shall light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and he will not survive, nor will any of those with him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So we shall go against him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him there shall not be left even one.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And we are going against him in one of the countries wherever he is found, and we encamp against him like dew falls over the land, and no man that was with him shall be left with him, not even one
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 we will not leave so much as one.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And we will come upon him in one of the places where we shall find him, and we will encamp against him, as the dew falls upon the earth; and we will not leave of him and of his men so much as one.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hushai Counters Ahithophel's Advice
11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain. 13If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.”…

Cross References
Judges 4:21
But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.

Judges 5:26-27
She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple. / At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

1 Kings 19:11-12
Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

Job 4:13-14
In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, / fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.

Job 27:20
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

Psalm 18:4-5
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 35:8
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

Psalm 55:15
Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

Psalm 73:19
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

Isaiah 29:5-6
But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, / you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.

Isaiah 30:13
this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant!

Jeremiah 51:39
While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 38:9
You and all your troops, and many peoples with you will go up, advancing like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Matthew 24:43
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matthew 26:55
At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.


Treasury of Scripture

So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

in some place

1 Samuel 23:23
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

1 Kings 20:10
And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

2 Kings 18:23
Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

2 Kings 19:24
I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

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2 Samuel 17
1. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's
15. Secret intelligence is sent unto David
23. Ahithophel hangs himself
25. Amasa is made captain
27. David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions














Then we will attack him
This phrase reflects the strategic military planning typical of ancient Near Eastern warfare. The Hebrew root for "attack" is "נָפַל" (naphal), which means to fall upon or to strike. This conveys a sudden and overwhelming assault, suggesting a surprise attack intended to catch the enemy off guard. Historically, such tactics were common in the warfare of the time, emphasizing the element of surprise and the complete overpowering of the enemy.

wherever he may be found
This indicates a relentless pursuit, showing the determination to seek out the enemy without regard to location. The Hebrew word "מָקוֹם" (maqom) for "place" or "location" underscores the thoroughness of the search. It reflects a commitment to leave no stone unturned, a principle that can be applied spiritually to the pursuit of righteousness and truth in one's life.

and we will fall on him
The imagery of falling upon someone is vivid and forceful. The Hebrew "נָפַל" (naphal) again is used here, emphasizing the suddenness and intensity of the attack. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for the overwhelming power of God's justice or judgment, which can come unexpectedly and with great force.

as dew falls on the ground
Dew is a natural phenomenon that occurs quietly and covers everything uniformly. The Hebrew word "טַל" (tal) for "dew" suggests a gentle, yet pervasive presence. This simile implies that the attack will be all-encompassing and unavoidable, much like how dew covers the earth. Spiritually, dew can symbolize God's grace and blessings, which are gentle yet all-encompassing.

Neither he nor any of his men will be left
This phrase speaks to the totality of the intended destruction. The Hebrew "שָׁאַר" (sha'ar) means to remain or be left over, indicating that the goal is complete annihilation. In a spiritual context, this can be seen as a call to eradicate sin completely from one's life, leaving no remnant behind. Historically, such complete victories were rare and often celebrated as divine intervention.

Verse 12. - In some place; Hebrew, in one of the places; one of the fortified camps already described in ver. 9.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then we will attack
וּבָ֣אנוּ (ū·ḇā·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

[David]
אֵלָ֗יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

wherever
הַמְּקוֹמֹת֙ (ham·mə·qō·w·mōṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

we find him,
נִמְצָ֣א (nim·ṣā)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

and we
וְנַ֣חְנוּ (wə·naḥ·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 5117: To rest, settle down

will descend
יִפֹּ֥ל (yip·pōl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

on
עָלָ֔יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

him like
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

dew
הַטַּ֖ל (haṭ·ṭal)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the ground.
הָאֲדָמָ֑ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

And of all
וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

with him,
אִתּ֖וֹ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

even
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

one
אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

will remain.
נ֥וֹתַר (nō·w·ṯar)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve


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OT History: 2 Samuel 17:12 So shall we come on him (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:11
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