Ahitofel dijo a Absalón: Te ruego que me dejes escoger doce mil hombres, y esta noche me levantaré y perseguiré a David; 2 caeré sobre él cuando esté cansado y fatigado^1a, le infundiré terror y huirá todo el pueblo que está con él; entonces heriré al rey solamente^b, 3 y haré volver a ti a todo el pueblo. El regreso de todos depende del hombre a quien buscas¹; después todo el pueblo estará en paz^a. 4 Y el plan agradó a¹ Absalón y a todos los ancianos de Israel.

5 Entonces Absalón dijo: Llama¹ también ahora a Husai arquita^a y escuchemos lo que él tiene que decir². 6 Cuando Husai vino a Absalón,este le dijo¹: Ahitofel ha hablado de esta manera², ¿Llevaremos a cabo su plan?³ Si no, habla. 7 Y Husai dijo a Absalón: Esta vez el consejo que Ahitofel ha dado¹ no es bueno^a. 8 Dijo además Husai: Tú conoces a tu padre y a sus hombres, que son hombres valientes y que están enfurecidos¹ como una osa privada de sus cachorros en el campo^a. Tu padre es un experto en la guerra², y no pasará la noche con el pueblo. 9 He aquí, él ahora se habrá escondido en una de las cuevas¹ o en algún otro lugar; y sucederá que si en el primer asalto caen algunos de los tuyos², cualquiera que se entere, dirá: «Ha habido una matanza en el pueblo que sigue a Absalón». 10 Y aun el valiente, cuyo corazón es como el corazón de un león, se desanimará¹ completamente^a, pues todo Israel sabe que tu padre es un hombre poderoso y que todos los que están con él son valientes. 11 Pero yo aconsejo que todo Israel se reúna contigo, desde Dan hasta Beerseba^a, abundantes como la arena que está a la orilla del mar^b, y que tú personalmente vayas¹ al combate. 12 Iremos a él en cualquiera de los lugares donde se encuentre, y descenderemos sobre él como cae el rocío sobre la tierra^a; y de él y de todos los hombres que están con él no quedará ni uno. 13 Si se refugia en una ciudad, todo Israel traerá sogas a aquella ciudad y la arrastraremos al valle¹ hasta que no se encuentre^a en ella ni una piedra pequeña. 14 Absalón y todos los hombres de Israel dijeron: El consejo de Husai arquita es mejor que el consejo de Ahitofel. Pues el SEÑOR había ordenado que se frustrara el buen consejo de Ahitofel para que el SEÑOR trajera calamidad sobre Absalón^a.

15 Dijo después Husai a los sacerdotes Sadoc y Abiatar^a: Esto¹ es lo que Ahitofel aconsejó a Absalón y a los ancianos de Israel, y esto² es lo que yo he aconsejado. 16 Ahora pues, enviad inmediatamente y avisad a David, diciendo: No pases la noche en los vados del desierto^a sino pasa al otro lado sin falta, no sea que el rey y el pueblo que está con él sean destruidos¹. 17 Y Jonatán y Ahimaas^a aguardaban en En-rogel^1b; una criada iría a avisarles y ellos irían a avisar al rey David, porque no debían verse entrando a la ciudad. 18 Pero un muchacho los vio y avisó a Absalón; así que los dos salieron rápidamente y fueron a la casa de un hombre en Bahurim^a que tenía un pozo en su patio, al cual¹ descendieron. 19 Y tomando la mujer una manta, la extendió^1a sobre la boca del pozo y esparció grano sobre ella, de modo que nada se notaba². 20 Entonces los siervos de Absalón fueron a la casa de la mujer¹ y dijeron: ¿Dónde están Ahimaas y Jonatán? Y la mujer^a les dijo: Ellos han pasado el arroyo². Buscaron, y al no encontrarlos, regresaron a Jerusalén.

21 Sucedió que después que se habían ido, salieron del pozo, y fueron y dieron aviso al rey David, diciéndole¹: Levantaos y pasad aprisa las aguas, porque así Ahitofel ha aconsejado contra vosotros^a. 22 Entonces David y todo el pueblo que estaba con él se levantaron y pasaron el Jordán; ya al amanecer¹ no quedaba ninguno que no hubiera pasado el Jordán. 23 Viendo Ahitofel que no habían seguido¹ su consejo, aparejó² su asno, se levantó y fue a su casa, a su ciudad^a, puso en orden³ su casa^b y se ahorcó^c. Así murió, y fue sepultado en la tumba de su padre.

24 Llegando David a Mahanaim, Absalón pasó el Jordán^a y con él todos los hombres de Israel. 25 Absalón nombró a Amasa jefe del ejército en lugar de Joab^a. Amasa era hijo de un hombre que se llamaba Itra, israelita¹, el cual se había llegado a Abigail, hija de Nahas, hermana de Sarvia, madre de Joab^b. 26 Y acampó Israel con¹ Absalón en la tierra de Galaad.

27 Cuando David llegó a Mahanaim, Sobi, hijo de Nahas^a de Rabá, de los hijos de Amnón^b, Maquir, hijo de Amiel de Lodebar^c, y Barzilai galaadita de Rogelim^d, 28 trajeron camas, copas, vasijas de barro, trigo, cebada, harina, grano tostado, habas, lentejas, semillas tostadas^a, 29 miel, cuajada, ovejas, y queso de vaca, para que comieran David y el pueblo que estaba con él, pues decían: El pueblo está hambriento, cansado y sediento^a en el desierto.

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.”