Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 17:20

"And Absalom`s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem." — 2 Samuel 17:20 (ASV)

The brook of water. —This peculiar word for brook occurs only here, and is thought by some writers to be a proper name. A small brook bearing the same name, Michal, is said to exist now in this locality. On the deceit practiced by the women, compare Joshua 2:4-7 and 1 Samuel 19:12–17. The historian simply records without comment what was done.