The Meaning of 2 Samuel 17:9 Explained

2 Samuel 17:9

KJV: Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

YLT: lo, now, he is hidden in one of the pits, or in one of the places, and it hath been, at the falling among them at the commencement, that the hearer hath heard, and said, There hath been a slaughter among the people who are after Absalom;

Darby: Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or some such place; and it will come to pass, when some of them fall at the first, whoever heareth it will say, There has been slaughter among the people that follow Absalom,

ASV: Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, he is hid  now in some  pit,  or in some  [other] place:  and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown  at the first,  that whosoever  heareth  it will say,  There is a slaughter  among the people  that follow  Absalom. 

What does 2 Samuel 17:9 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 17:1-14 - Tripped By Flattering Counsel
What a contrast to the plottings of David's foes was his own state of mind, as disclosed in Psalms 3:1-8; Psalms 4:1-8, written at this time! At Jerusalem they were taking counsel against him. Ahithophel describes the deposed king as weary and weak-handed, and shows how easily he may be smitten. Hushai pictures him as chafed and savage. The messengers are hastened on their way, lest he should be swallowed up. But David betakes himself to God.
He knows that God is a Shield unto him, so that there is no need to be afraid of ten thousands of people. He lies down in peace and sleeps, because God makes him to dwell in safety. He knows that God hath set him apart for Himself, and will answer to his call. He said all this, though he knew that these disasters were the result of his sin. But this is the prerogative of all whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Though we continue to blame ourselves, and "go softly" as we remember the past, yet we absolutely accept our Lord's assurances that He will deliver us from the complications caused by our sins, and act as our rearguard against the consequences. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 17:9 mean?

Surely by now he is hidden in one of the pits or in one of the [other] places and it will be when are overthrown some of them at the first that whoever hears [it] and will say there is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom
הִנֵּ֨ה עַתָּ֤ה הֽוּא־ נֶחְבָּא֙ בְּאַחַ֣ת הַפְּחָתִ֔ים א֖וֹ בְּאַחַ֣ד הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת וְהָיָ֗ה כִּנְפֹ֤ל בָּהֶם֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה וְשָׁמַ֤ע הַשֹּׁמֵ֙עַ֙ וְאָמַ֔ר הָֽיְתָה֙ מַגֵּפָ֔ה בָּעָ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֹֽם

הִנֵּ֨ה  Surely 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עַתָּ֤ה  by  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
נֶחְבָּא֙  is  hidden 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָבָא  
Sense: to withdraw, hide.
בְּאַחַ֣ת  in  one 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
הַפְּחָתִ֔ים  of  the  pits 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: פַּחַת  
Sense: pit, hole.
בְּאַחַ֣ד  in  one 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת  of  the  [other]  places 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
וְהָיָ֗ה  and  it  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כִּנְפֹ֤ל  when  are  overthrown 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בָּהֶם֙  some  of  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה  at  the  first 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּחִלָּה  
Sense: beginning, first.
וְשָׁמַ֤ע  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
הַשֹּׁמֵ֙עַ֙  whoever  hears  [it] 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְאָמַ֔ר  and  will  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָֽיְתָה֙  there  is 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מַגֵּפָ֔ה  a  slaughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַגֵּפָה  
Sense: blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence, strike, smite.
בָּעָ֕ם  among  the  people 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  follow 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
אַבְשָׁלֹֽם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.