2 Samuel 17:21It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, "Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you."
The setting
Near Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. Night. Two loyal spies emerge from a well where they hid from Absalom's search parties, rushing to warn King David that his trusted counselor Ahithophel has advised an immediate attack...
The emotion here: breathless urgency after near capture
The original word
qûm (קוּם) — arise urgently, not casual standing but emergency action
Why it matters
The Jordan River crossing was about 15 miles from Jerusalem - a dangerous night journey
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 17:21
These spies had just hidden in a well while searchers literally stood above them
Common misconceptionThis seems like a minor detail, but Ahithophel's counsel was so brilliant that David called it 'like inquiring of God' - this warning literally saved the kingdom.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Samuel 17:21
Bible Genome reading
2 Samuel 17:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Samuel 17:21 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is wilderness. These words are attributed to Jonathan and Ahimaaz. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include urgency, loyalty. Notable phrases: Arise and pass quickly. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does 2 Samuel 17:21 mean to you, today?
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