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.
After the soldiers left, the two men climbed out of the well and went to tell King David what they had learned. They said to David, 'Get up and cross the river quickly, because Ahithophel has given advice on how to attack you.'
The writer is showing how two loyal messengers risked their lives to warn King David that his enemy's counselor had made plans against him, urging the king to flee immediately.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Absalom's rebellion when David's own son was trying to overthrow him as king. Two spies had been hiding in a well to avoid capture by Absalom's forces, and they had overheard the military counsel of Ahithophel, David's former trusted advisor who had betrayed him. The 'water' they're referring to is the Jordan River, which David needed to cross to escape to safety.
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