2Sa 17:16 | NET2full | STEP | Now send word quickly to David and warn him, “ Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness tonight . Instead , be sure you cross over , or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed .”

‏ 2 Samuel 17:16

16 Now send word quickly to David and warn him, ^{▼▼tn Heb “send quickly and tell David saying.”} “Don’t spend the night at the fords ^{▼▼tc The MT reads “the rift valleys (עֲרָבוֹת, ʿaravot) of the wilderness.” The plural form typically refers to the gently sloping plains at the basin of the rift valley just north of the Dead Sea (while the larger rift valley extends from Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba). Many translations render as the “fords” (NASB, ESV, NIV, NRSV) assuming the reversal of two letters as עֲבָרוֹת (ʿavarot, “fords, crossing”).} of the wilderness tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, ^{▼▼tn That is, “cross over the Jordan River.”} or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.” ^{▼▼tn Heb “swallowed up.”}