2 Samuel 17:19
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.

English Standard Version
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

King James 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.

New King James Version
Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.

New American Standard Bible
And the woman took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known.

NASB 1995
And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known.

NASB 1977
And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered crushed grain on it, so that nothing was known.

Amplified Bible
And the woman [of the house] took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well and scattered grain on it; so nothing was discovered.

Christian Standard Bible
Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything.

American Standard Version
And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.

Contemporary English Version
The man's wife put the cover on the well and poured grain on top of it, so the well could not be seen.

English Revised Version
And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised corn thereon; and nothing was known.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The man's wife took a cover, spread it over the top of the cistern, and scattered some grain over it so that no one could tell it was there.

Good News Translation
The man's wife took a covering, spread it over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it, so that no one would notice anything.

International Standard Version
The man's wife grabbed a sheet, covered the mouth of the well with it, and spread some dried grain over it. As a result, nobody could tell it was a hiding place.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the man?s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

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.

New Heart English Bible
And the woman took a covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain on it, so that nothing could be noticed.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn upon it; and the thing was not known.

World English Bible
The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the woman takes and spreads the covering over the face of the well, and spreads the ground grain on it, and the thing has not been known.

Young's Literal Translation
and the woman taketh and spreadeth the covering over the face of the well, and spreadeth on it the ground corn, and the thing hath not been known.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the woman will take and spread the covering upon the mouth of the well and she will spread the medicine upon it; and the word will not be known.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then a woman took and spread a covering over the mouth of the well, as if drying hulled barley. And so the matter was hidden.

New American Bible
and the woman took the cover and spread it over the mouth of the cistern, strewing crushed grain on the cover so that nothing could be noticed.

New Revised Standard Version
The man’s wife took a covering, stretched it over the well’s mouth, and spread out grain on it; and nothing was known of it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and put barley upon it; and the thing was not known.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a woman took a covering for it and she covered over the well and she spread barley grain over it and no person knew it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed groats thereon; and nothing was known.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And a woman took a covering, and spread it over the mouth of the well, and spread out ground corn upon it to dry, and the thing was not known.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hushai's Warning Saves David
18But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing. 20When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.…

Cross References
Joshua 2:4-6
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. / At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” / (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)

Judges 4:18-21
Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. / Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. / “Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’” ...

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

1 Kings 18:13
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.

2 Kings 6:19
And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

2 Kings 11:2-3
But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. / And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Jeremiah 38:6-13
So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. / Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, / Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, ...

Genesis 24:45
And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

Exodus 1:17-21
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. / So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” / The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” ...

1 Samuel 19:12-17
So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. / Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. / When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.” ...

1 Samuel 21:2
“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

1 Samuel 22:17-18
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. / So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

2 Samuel 15:34
But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

2 Samuel 16:16-19
And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” / “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” / “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. ...

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

spread a covering

Joshua 2:4-6
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: …

the thing

Exodus 1:19
And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

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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 his wife
This phrase introduces the pivotal role of a woman in the narrative, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women in biblical history. In the Hebrew context, the term for "wife" (אִשָּׁה, ishah) signifies not only a marital partner but also a woman of valor and wisdom. This reflects the biblical theme of God using unexpected individuals to fulfill His purposes, reminiscent of other women in Scripture like Rahab and Esther.

took a covering
The act of taking a covering (כְּסוּת, kesut) is symbolic of protection and concealment. In ancient Near Eastern culture, coverings were used for various purposes, including protection from the elements and as a means of hiding or safeguarding something valuable. This action signifies a strategic move to protect the messengers, aligning with the biblical theme of divine providence and human agency working in tandem.

and spread it over the mouth of the well
The well (בְּאֵר, beer) in biblical times was a vital source of life and sustenance, often serving as a communal gathering place. By spreading the covering over the well's mouth, the woman cleverly disguises the entrance, demonstrating resourcefulness and quick thinking. This act of concealment is reminiscent of other biblical narratives where God’s people are hidden or protected, such as Moses in the bulrushes or the spies in Jericho.

and scattered grain on it
Scattering grain (דָּגָן, dagan) serves as a further act of deception, making the covering appear as part of the normal agricultural process. Grain, a staple in the ancient diet, symbolizes sustenance and provision. This action not only conceals the well but also reflects the theme of God providing for His people in times of need, as seen in the accounts of Joseph and the provision of manna in the wilderness.

so nothing was known
This phrase underscores the success of the concealment, emphasizing the theme of divine protection and the thwarting of evil plans. The Hebrew word for "known" (יָדַע, yada) often implies intimate knowledge or understanding. Here, it signifies the complete ignorance of Absalom’s men regarding the hidden messengers, illustrating how God’s plans prevail despite human schemes. This echoes the biblical assurance found in Proverbs 21:30, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD."

(19) Ground Corn.--This word occurs elsewhere only in Proverbs 27:22, and means wheat or barley beaten or ground so as to remove the hull; in this condition it was spread out to dry.

Verse 19. - A covering; Hebrew, the cover; that is, the usual cover of the cistern, which had been taken off to let the young men descend into it. Over it she spread, not ground corn, but brayed or peeled corn (see Proverbs 27:22), probably barley groats. She was probably busy in removing the husks of the barley with a pestle in a mortar when Jonathan and Ahimaaz sought refuge with her; and thus her whole proceeding was so natural as to excite no suspicions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [the man's] wife
הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

took
וַתִּקַּ֣ח (wat·tiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a covering
הַמָּסָךְ֙ (ham·mā·sāḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4539: A covering, screen

and spread
וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ (wat·tip̄·rōś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6566: To break apart, disperse

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

the mouth
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the well
הַבְּאֵ֔ר (hab·bə·’êr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 875: A pit, a well

and scattered
וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח (wat·tiš·ṭaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7849: To spread, spread abroad

grain
הָֽרִפ֑וֹת (hā·ri·p̄ō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7383: Perhaps grain

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

so nobody
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

would know
נוֹדַ֖ע (nō·w·ḏa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

a thing.
דָּבָֽר׃ (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT History: 2 Samuel 17:19 The woman took and spread the covering (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 17:18
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