¹ Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

² And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

³ And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

⁴ And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

⁶ And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

⁷ And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

⁸ For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

¹¹ Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

¹² So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

¹³ Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

¹⁴ And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

¹⁵ Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.

¹⁶ Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

¹⁹ And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

²⁰ And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you.

²² Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

²³ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

²⁴ Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

²⁵ And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

²⁶ So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

²⁸ Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,

²⁹ And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

---

¹ Moreover Ahithophel ^H302 said ^H559 unto Absalom, ^H53 Let me now choose out ^H977 twelve ^{H8147 H6240} thousand ^H505 men, ^H376 and I will arise ^H6965 and pursue ^H7291 after ^H310 David ^H1732 this night: ^H3915

² And I will come ^H935 upon him while he is weary ^H3023 and weak ^H7504 handed, ^H3027 and will make him afraid: ^H2729 and all the people ^H5971 that are with him shall flee; ^H5127 and I will smite ^H5221 the king ^H4428 only:

³ And I will bring back ^H7725 all the people ^H5971 unto thee: the man ^H376 whom thou seekest ^H1245 is as if all returned: ^H7725 so all the people ^H5971 shall be in peace. ^H7965

⁴ And the saying ^H1697 pleased ^H3474 Absalom ^H53 well, ^H5869 and all the elders ^H2205 of Israel. ^H3478

⁵ Then said ^H559 Absalom, ^H53 Call ^H7121 now Hushai ^H2365 the Archite ^H757 also, and let us hear ^H8085 likewise what he saith. ^H6310

⁶ And when Hushai ^H2365 was come ^H935 to Absalom, ^H53 Absalom ^H53 spake ^H559 unto him, saying, ^H559 Ahithophel ^H302 hath spoken ^H1696 after this manner: ^H1697 shall we do ^H6213 after his saying? ^H1697 if not; speak ^H1696 thou.

⁷ And Hushai ^H2365 said ^H559 unto Absalom, ^H53 The counsel ^H6098 that Ahithophel ^H302 hath given ^H3289 is not good ^H2896 at this time. ^H6471

⁸ For, said ^H559 Hushai, ^H2365 thou knowest ^H3045 thy father ^H1 and his men, ^H582 that they be mighty men, ^H1368 and they be chafed ^H4751 in their minds, ^H5315 as a bear ^H1677 robbed ^H7909 of her whelps in the field: ^H7704 and thy father ^H1 is a man ^H376 of war, ^H4421 and will not lodge ^H3885 with the people. ^H5971

⁹ Behold, he is hid ^H2244 now in some ^H259 pit, ^H6354 or in some ^H259 other place: ^H4725 and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown ^H5307 at the first, ^H8462 that whosoever ^H8085 heareth ^H8085 it will say, ^H559 There is a slaughter ^H4046 among the people ^H5971 that follow ^H310 Absalom. ^H53

¹⁰ And he also that is valiant, ^{H1121 H2428} whose heart ^H3820 is as the heart ^H3820 of a lion, ^H738 shall utterly ^H4549 melt: ^H4549 for all Israel ^H3478 knoweth ^H3045 that thy father ^H1 is a mighty man, ^H1368 and they which be with him are valiant ^H2428 men. ^H1121

¹¹ Therefore I counsel ^H3289 that all Israel ^H3478 be generally ^H622 gathered ^H622 unto thee, from Dan ^H1835 even to Beersheba, ^H884 as the sand ^H2344 that is by the sea ^H3220 for multitude; ^H7230 and that thou go ^H1980 to battle ^H7128 in thine own person. ^H6440

¹² So shall we come ^H935 upon him in some ^H259 place ^H4725 where he shall be found, ^H4672 and we will light ^H5168 upon him as the dew ^H2919 falleth ^H5307 on the ground: ^H127 and of him and of all the men ^H582 that are with him there shall not be left ^H3498 so much as ^H1571 one. ^H259

¹³ Moreover, if ^H518 he be gotten ^H622 into a city, ^H5892 then shall all Israel ^H3478 bring ^H5375 ropes ^H2256 to that city, ^H5892 and we will draw ^H5498 it into the river, ^H5158 until there be not one ^H1571 small stone ^H6872 found ^H4672 there.

¹⁴ And Absalom ^H53 and all the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 said, ^H559 The counsel ^H6098 of Hushai ^H2365 the Archite ^H757 is better ^H2896 than the counsel ^H6098 of Ahithophel. ^H302 For the LORD ^H3068 had appointed ^H6680 to defeat ^H6565 the good ^H2896 counsel ^H6098 of Ahithophel, ^H302 to the intent ^H5668 that the LORD ^H3068 might bring ^H935 evil ^H7451 upon Absalom. ^H53

¹⁵ Then said ^H559 Hushai ^H2365 unto Zadok ^H6659 and to Abiathar ^H54 the priests, ^H3548 Thus and thus did Ahithophel ^H302 counsel ^H3289 Absalom ^H53 and the elders ^H2205 of Israel; ^H3478 and thus and thus have I counselled. ^H3289

¹⁶ Now therefore send ^H7971 quickly, ^H4120 and tell ^H5046 David, ^H1732 saying, ^H559 Lodge ^H3885 not this night ^H3915 in the plains ^{H6160 H5679} of the wilderness, ^H4057 but speedily ^H5674 pass over; ^H5674 lest the king ^H4428 be swallowed up, ^H1104 and all the people ^H5971 that are with him.

¹⁷ Now Jonathan ^H3083 and Ahimaaz ^H290 stayed ^H5975 by Enrogel; ^H5883 for they might ^H3201 not be seen ^H7200 to come ^H935 into the city: ^H5892 and a wench ^H8198 went ^H1980 and told ^H5046 them; and they went ^H3212 and told ^H5046 king ^H4428 David. ^H1732

¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad ^H5288 saw ^H7200 them, and told ^H5046 Absalom: ^H53 but they went ^H3212 both ^H8147 of them away quickly, ^H4120 and came ^H935 to a man's ^H376 house ^H1004 in Bahurim, ^H980 which had a well ^H875 in his court; ^H2691 whither ^H8033 they went down. ^H3381

¹⁹ And the woman ^H802 took ^H3947 and spread ^H6566 a covering ^H4539 over the well's ^H875 mouth, ^H6440 and spread ^H7849 ground corn ^H7383 thereon; and the thing ^H1697 was not known. ^H3045

²⁰ And when Absalom's ^H53 servants ^H5650 came ^H935 to the woman ^H802 to the house, ^H1004 they said, ^H559 Where is Ahimaaz ^H290 and Jonathan? ^H3083 And the woman ^H802 said ^H559 unto them, They be gone over ^H5674 the brook ^H4323 of water. ^H4325 And when they had sought ^H1245 and could not find ^H4672 them, they returned ^H7725 to Jerusalem. ^H3389

²¹ And it came to pass, after ^H310 they were departed, ^H3212 that they came up ^H5927 out of the well, ^H875 and went ^H3212 and told ^H5046 king ^H4428 David, ^H1732 and said ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 Arise, ^H6965 and pass quickly ^H4120 over ^H5674 the water: ^H4325 for thus hath Ahithophel ^H302 counselled ^H3289 against you.

²² Then David ^H1732 arose, ^H6965 and all the people ^H5971 that were with him, and they passed over ^H5674 Jordan: ^H3383 by the morning ^H1242 light ^H216 there lacked ^H5737 not one ^H259 of them that was not gone over ^H5674 Jordan. ^H3383

²³ And when Ahithophel ^H302 saw ^H7200 that his counsel ^H6098 was not followed, ^H6213 he saddled ^H2280 his ass, ^H2543 and arose, ^H6965 and gat him home ^H3212 to his house, ^H1004 to his city, ^H5892 and put his household ^H1004 in order, ^H6680 and hanged ^H2614 himself, and died, ^H4191 and was buried ^H6912 in the sepulchre ^H6913 of his father. ^H1

²⁴ Then David ^H1732 came ^H935 to Mahanaim. ^H4266 And Absalom ^H53 passed over ^H5674 Jordan, ^H3383 he and all the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 with him.

²⁵ And Absalom ^H53 made ^H7760 Amasa ^H6021 captain of the host ^H6635 instead of Joab: ^H3097 which Amasa ^H6021 was a man's ^H376 son, ^H1121 whose name ^H8034 was Ithra ^H3501 an Israelite, ^H3481 that went in ^H935 to Abigail ^H26 the daughter ^H1323 of Nahash, ^H5176 sister ^H269 to Zeruiah ^H6870 Joab's ^H3097 mother. ^H517

²⁶ So Israel ^H3478 and Absalom ^H53 pitched ^H2583 in the land ^H776 of Gilead. ^H1568

²⁷ And it came to pass, when David ^H1732 was come ^H935 to Mahanaim, ^H4266 that Shobi ^H7629 the son ^H1121 of Nahash ^H5176 of Rabbah ^H7237 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon, ^H5983 and Machir ^H4353 the son ^H1121 of Ammiel ^H5988 of Lodebar, ^H3810 and Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite ^H1569 of Rogelim, ^H7274

²⁸ Brought ^H5066 beds, ^H4904 and basons, ^H5592 and earthen ^H3335 vessels, ^H3627 and wheat, ^H2406 and barley, ^H8184 and flour, ^H7058 and parched ^H7039 corn, and beans, ^H6321 and lentiles, ^H5742 and parched ^H7039 pulse,

²⁹ And honey, ^H1706 and butter, ^H2529 and sheep, ^H6629 and cheese ^H8194 of kine, ^H1241 for David, ^H1732 and for the people ^H5971 that were with him, to eat: ^H398 for they said, ^H559 The people ^H5971 is hungry, ^H7457 and weary, ^H5889 and thirsty, ^H6771 in the wilderness. ^H4057

---

¹ Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

² and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;

³ and I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: `so' all the people shall be in peace.

⁴ And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

⁶ And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do `after' his saying? if not, speak thou.

⁷ And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given this time is not good.

⁸ Hushai said moreover, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.

¹¹ But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

¹² So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground; and of him and of all the men that are with him we will not leave so much as one.

¹³ Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

¹⁴ And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.

¹⁵ Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

¹⁶ Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.

¹⁸ But a lad saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down thither.

¹⁹ And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.

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.

²¹ And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

²² Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over the Jordan.

²³ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

²⁴ Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

²⁵ And Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, that went in to Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

²⁶ And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

²⁸ brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched `grain', and beans, and lentils, and parched `pulse',

²⁹ and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

---

¹ And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, `Let me choose, I pray thee, twelve thousand men, and I arise and pursue after David to-night,

² and come upon him, and he weary and feeble-handed, and I have caused him to tremble, and all the people have fled who `are' with him, and I have smitten the king by himself,

³ and I bring back all the people unto thee -- as the turning back of the whole `is' the man whom thou art seeking -- all the people are peace.

⁴ And the thing is right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

⁵ And Absalom saith, `Call, I pray thee, also for Hushai the Archite, and we hear what `is' in his mouth -- even he.'

⁶ And Hushai cometh in unto Absalom, and Absalom speaketh unto him, saying, `According to this word hath Ahithophel spoken; do we do his word? if not, thou -- speak thou.'

⁷ And Hushai saith unto Absalom, `Not good `is' the counsel that Ahithophel hath counselled at this time.'

⁸ And Hushai saith, `Thou hast known thy father and his men, that they `are' heroes, and they are bitter in soul as a bereaved bear in a field, and thy father `is' a man of war, and doth not lodge with the people;

⁹ 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;

¹⁰ and he also, the son of valour, whose heart `is' as the heart of the lion, doth utterly melt, for all Israel doth know that thy father is a hero, and sons of valour `are' those with him.

¹¹ `So that I have counselled: Let all Israel be diligently gathered unto thee, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, as the sand that `is' by the sea for multitude, and thou thyself art going in the midst;

¹² and we have come in unto him in one of the places where he is found, and we `are' upon him as the dew falleth on the ground, and there hath not been left of him and of all the men who `are' with him even one.

¹³ And if unto a city he is gathered, then they have caused all Israel to bear unto that city ropes, and we have drawn it unto the brook till that there hath not been found there even a stone.'

¹⁴ And Absalom saith -- and all the men of Israel -- `Better `is' the counsel of Hushai the Archite than the counsel of Ahithophel;' and Jehovah willed to make void the good counsel of Ahithophel for the sake of Jehovah's bringing unto Absalom the evil.

¹⁵ And Hushai saith unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, `Thus and thus hath Ahithophel counselled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus I have counselled;

¹⁶ and now, send hastily, and declare to David, saying, Lodge not to-night in the plains of the wilderness, and also, certainly pass over, lest there be a swallowing up of the king and of all the people who are with him.'

¹⁷ And Jonathan and Ahimaaz are standing at En-Rogel, and the maid-servant hath gone and declared to them -- and they go and have declared `it' to king David -- for they are not able to be seen to go in to the city.

¹⁸ And a youth seeth them, and declareth to Absalom; and they go on both of them hastily, and come in unto the house of a man in Bahurim, and he hath a well in his court, and they go down there,

¹⁹ and the woman taketh and spreadeth the covering over the face of the well, and spreadeth on it the ground corn, and the thing hath not been known.

²⁰ And the servants of Absalom come in unto the woman to the house, and say, `Where `are' Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' and the woman saith to them, `They passed over the brook of water;' and they seek, and have not found, and turn back to Jerusalem.

²¹ And it cometh to pass, after their going on, that they come up out of the well, and go and declare to king David, and say unto David, `Rise ye, and pass over hastily the waters, for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.'

²² And David riseth, and all the people who `are' with him, and they pass over the Jordan, till the light of the morning, till one hath not been lacking who hath not passed over the Jordan.

²³ And Ahithophel hath seen that his counsel was not done, and he saddleth the ass, and riseth and goeth unto his house, unto his city, and giveth charge unto his household, and strangleth himself, and dieth, and he is buried in the burying-place of his father.

²⁴ And David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him;

²⁵ and Amasa hath Absalom set instead of Joab over the host, and Amasa `is' a man's son whose name is Ithra the Israelite who hath gone in unto Abigail, daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab;

²⁶ and Israel encampeth with Absalom `in' the land of Gilead.

²⁷ And it cometh to pass at the coming in of David to Mahanaim, that Shobi, son of Nahash, from Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, from Rogelim,

²⁸ couch, and basin, and earthen vessel, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and roasted `corn', and beans, and lentiles, and roasted `pulse',

²⁹ and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, have brought nigh for David, and for the people who `are' with him to eat, for they said, `Thy people `is' hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.'

---

¹ And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me, I pray, choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David to-night;

² and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;

³ and I will bring back all the people to thee. The man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: all the people shall be in peace.

⁴ And the saying was right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

⁵ And Absalom said, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and we will hear also what he says.

⁶ And Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we carry out his word? If not, speak thou.

⁷ And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.

⁸ And Hushai said, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are of exasperated spirit, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹ 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,

¹⁰ and even the valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion shall utterly melt; for all Israel knows that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.

¹¹ But I counsel that all Israel be speedily gathered to thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

¹² And we shall come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

¹³ And if he withdraw into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the torrent, until there be not one small stone found there.

¹⁴ And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. And Jehovah had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.

¹⁵ And Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

¹⁶ And now send quickly, and tell David saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

¹⁷ And Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; and the maid went and told them; and they went and told king David, for they might not be seen to come into the city.

¹⁸ But a lad saw them, and told Absalom. Then they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.

¹⁹ And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn on it; and the thing was not known.

²⁰ And Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. And they sought and could not find [them], and returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ And it came to pass after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.

²² Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan; by the morning light there was not one of them missing that had not gone over the Jordan.

²³ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose and went to his house, to his city, and gave charge to his household, and hanged himself, and he died; and he was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

²⁴ And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

²⁵ And Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab; which Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra the Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

²⁶ And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ And as soon as David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

²⁸ brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse],

²⁹ and honey, and cream, and sheep, and cheese of kine to David, and to the people that were with him, to eat; for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.

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¹ Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

² and I will come on him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only;

³ and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.

⁴ The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says.

⁶ When Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not, speak up.

⁷ Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.

⁸ Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹ Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.

¹⁰ Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; 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 gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

¹² So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.

¹³ Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there.

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

¹⁵ Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.

¹⁶ Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.

¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.

¹⁸ But a boy saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.

¹⁹ The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.

²⁰ Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.

²² Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

²⁴ Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

²⁵ Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

²⁶ Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ It happened, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

²⁸ brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched [grain], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse],

²⁹ and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

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¹ Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me take out twelve thousand men and this very night I will go after David:

² And I will come up with him when he is tired and feeble, and make him full of fear: and all the people with him will go in flight; and I will make an attack on the king only:

³ And I will make all the people come back to you as a bride comes back to her husband: it is the life of only one man you are going after; so all the people will be at peace.

⁴ And the saying was pleasing to Absalom and to the responsible men of Israel.

⁵ Then Absalom said, Now send for Hushai the Archite, and let us give ear to what he has to say.

⁶ And when Hushai came, Absalom said to him, This is what Ahithophel has said: are we to do as he says? if not, what is your suggestion?

⁷ And Hushai said to Absalom, Ahithophel's idea is not a good one at this time.

⁸ Hushai said further, You have knowledge of your father and his men, that they are men of war, and that their feelings are bitter, like those of a bear in the field whose young ones have been taken from her: and your father is a man of war, and will not take his night's rest with the people;

⁹ But he will certainly have taken cover now in some hole or secret place; and if some of our people, at the first attack, are overcome, then any hearing of it will say, There is destruction among the people who are on Absalom's side.

¹⁰ Then even the strongest, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will become like water; for all Israel is conscious that your father is a man of war, and those who are with him are strong and without fear.

¹¹ But my suggestion is that all Israel, from Dan as far as Beer-sheba, comes together to you, a great army like the sands of the sea in number; and that you yourself go out among them.

¹² Then we will come on him in some place, wherever he may be, falling on him as the dew comes on the earth: and of him and all the men who are with him not one will get away with his life.

¹³ And if he has gone into some town, then let all Israel take strong cords to that town, and we will have it pulled into the valley, till not one small stone is to be seen there.

¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, Hushai's suggestion is better than that of Ahithophel. For it was the purpose of the Lord to make the wise designs of Ahithophel without effect, so that the Lord might send evil on Absalom.

¹⁵ Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, This is the suggestion made by Ahithophel to Absalom and the responsible men of Israel, and this is what I said to them.

¹⁶ So now send the news quickly to David, and say, Do not take your night's rest by the way across the river to the waste land, but be certain to go over; or the king and all the people with him will come to destruction.

¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting by En-rogel; and a servant-girl went from time to time and gave them news and they went with the news to King David, for it was not wise for them to let themselves be seen coming into the town.

¹⁸ But a boy saw them, and gave word of it to Absalom: so the two of them went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim who had a water-hole in his garden, and they went down into it.

¹⁹ And a woman put a cover over the hole, and put crushed grain on top of it, and no one had any knowledge of it.

²⁰ And Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone from here to the stream. And after searching for them, and seeing nothing of them, they went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ Then after the servants had gone away, they came up out of the water-hole and went to give King David the news; and they said, Get up and go quickly over the water, for such and such are Ahithophel's designs against you.

²² So David and all the people who were with him went up over Jordan: when dawn came, every one of them had gone over Jordan.

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his suggestion was not acted on, he got his ass ready, and went back to his house, to the town where he came from, and having put his house in order, he put himself to death by hanging; so he came to his end and was put in the resting-place of his father.

²⁴ And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom, with all the men of Israel, went over Jordan.

²⁵ And Absalom put Amasa at the head of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had been the lover of Abigail, the daughter of Jesse, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

²⁶ And Israel and Absalom put up their tents in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi, the son of Nahash of Rabbah, the Ammonite, and Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

²⁸ Came with beds and basins and pots, and grain and meal, and all sorts of dry foods,

²⁹ And honey and butter and sheep and milk-cheeses, for David and his people: for they said, This people is in the waste land, needing food and drink and rest.