Then, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight. 2 ^aI will ¹strike while he is weary and ²exhausted, and terrify him; and all the people with him will flee in terror. Then ^bI will attack the king alone, 3 and I will bring all the people who follow David back to you. ¹The return of everyone depends on the death of the man you are seeking; then all the people will be at ^apeace and accept you as king.” 4 So the plan ¹pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call ^aHushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has advised this plan of action. Should we do what he says? If not, you speak and explain why not.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel has not given good advice ^athis time.” 8 And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are brave men, and they are ¹enraged and fierce, ^alike a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. Your father is a shrewd man of war, and will not spend the night with the people knowing that you seek his life. 9 Behold, he has hidden himself even now in one of the ravines or in another place; and when some of ¹your troops fall at the first attack, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a defeat among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even the one who is brave, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^awill completely lose heart and melt away; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are brave men. 11 But I advise that all the men of Israel be summoned to you, ^afrom Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, ^blike the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle. 12 So shall we come upon David in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him ^aas the dew falls unseen and unheard on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 If he retreats into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^adrag it into the ravine until not even a pebble of it is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For ^athe LORD had ordained to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster upon Absalom.

15 Then ^aHushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “This is the advice that Ahithophel gave to Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is the advice that I have given. 16 Now then, send word quickly and tell David, ‘^aDo not spend the night at the ¹fords on the west side of the Jordan in the wilderness, but by all means cross over to the east side of the river, or else the king and all the people with him will be destroyed if Ahithophel is allowed by Absalom to lead an attack.’” 17 ^aNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz the priests’ sons were staying at ^1bEn-rogel, and a maidservant appearing to go for water would go and tell them what was happening, and they would go secretly and inform King David; for they could not allow themselves to be seen coming into the city of Jerusalem. 18 But a boy saw them and told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man ^ain Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and with his permission they went down into it. 19 And ^athe woman of the house took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well and scattered grain on it; so nothing was discovered. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And ^athe woman said to them, “They have crossed over the brook.” When they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 After they left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up out of the well and went and informed King David, and said to David, “^aArise and cross over the ¹Jordan River quickly, for Ahithophel has advised an attack against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him departed and crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak, not even one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to ^ahis city. Then he ^bput his household in order, and ^changed himself. So he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 Then David came to ^aMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom put ^aAmasa in command of the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man named ¹Ithra the Israelite, who had married Abigail the daughter of ^bNahash, the half-sister of David and the sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi ^athe son of Nahash from ^bRabbah of the Ammonites, and ^cMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and ^dBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim 28 brought ^abeds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, broad beans, lentils, and other roasted grain, 29 honey, cream, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, ^ato eat; for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. 2 ^aAnd I will ¹attack him while he is weary and ²exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then ^bI will strike and kill the king when he is alone, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you. ¹The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at ^apeace.” 4 And the ¹plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call ^aHushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what ¹he has to say.” 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to ¹him, “Ahithophel has ²proposed this plan. Should we ³carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “^aThis time the advice that Ahithophel has ¹given is not good.” 8 Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are ¹fierce, ^alike a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an ²expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^awill completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^afrom Dan even to Beersheba, ^blike the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that ¹you personally go into battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will ¹fall on him ^ajust as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^adrag it into the ¹valley until not even a pebble is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For ^athe LORD had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the LORD to bring disaster on Absalom.

15 Then ^aHushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “¹This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do, and ²this is what I have advised. 16 Now then, send a messenger quickly and tell David, saying, ‘^aDo not spend the night at the river crossing places of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be ¹destroyed.’” 17 ^aNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at ^bEn-rogel, and a female servant would go and inform them, and they would go and inform King David, for they could not allow themselves to be seen entering the city. 18 But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man ^ain Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down ¹into it. 19 And ^athe woman ¹took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And ^athe woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 It came about after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, “^aSet out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by ¹dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been ¹followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to ^ahis city, and ^2bset his house in order, and ^changed himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.

24 Then David came to ^aMahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom put ^aAmasa ¹in command of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ²Ithra the Israelite, who ³had relations with Abigail the daughter of ^bNahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi ^athe son of Nahash from ^bRabbah of the sons of Ammon, ^cMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and ^dBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought ^abeds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, roasted seeds, 29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, ^ato eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and exhausted and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 2 ^aI will come upon him while he is weary and ¹exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then ^bI will strike down the king alone, 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. ¹The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at ^apeace.” 4 So the ¹plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call ^aHushai the Archite also, and let us hear what ¹he has to say.” 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to ¹him, “Ahithophel has spoken ²thus. Shall we ³carry out his plan? If not, you speak.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “^aThis time the advice that Ahithophel has ¹given is not good.” 8 Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are ¹fierce, ^alike a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an ²expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ¹caves or in another place; and it will be ²when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^awill completely ¹lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, ^afrom Dan even to Beersheba, ^bas the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that ¹you personally go into battle. 12 So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will ¹fall on him ^aas the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^adrag it into the ¹valley until not even a small stone is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For ^athe LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom.

15 Then ^aHushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “¹This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and ²this is what I have counseled. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘^aDo not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be ¹destroyed.’” 17 ^aNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at ^bEn-rogel, and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen entering the city. 18 But a lad did see them and told Absalom; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man ^ain Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down ¹into it. 19 And ^athe woman ¹took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And ^athe woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “^aArise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by ¹dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not ¹followed, he ²saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to ^ahis city, and ^3bset his house in order, and ^cstrangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.

24 Then David came to ^aMahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom set ^aAmasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ¹Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of ^bNahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi ^athe son of Nahash from ^bRabbah of the sons of Ammon, ^cMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and ^dBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought ^abeds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, 29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, ^ato eat; for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”