Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

1Furthermore, Ahithophel (my brother is folly) said to Absalom (my father is peace), “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David (beloved). 2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man;a then all the people will be at peace.”

4This proposal seemed good to Absalom (my father is peace) and all the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God).

5Then Absalom (my father is peace) said, “Summon Hushai (hastening) the Archite (lengthy) as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”

6So Hushai (hastening) came to Absalom, who (my father is peace) told him, “Ahithophel (my brother is folly) has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”

7Hushai (hastening) replied (my father is peace), “This time the advice of Ahithophel (my brother is folly) is not sound.”

8He (hastening) continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. 9Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first (If he should attack your troops first),b whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom (my father is peace).’ 10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel (he wrestles with God) knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

11Instead, I advise that all Israel (he wrestles with God) from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven)—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

13If he retreats to a city, all Israel (he wrestles with God) will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”

14Then Absalom (my father is peace) and all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) said, “The advice of Hushai (hastening) the Archite (lengthy) is better than that of Ahithophel (my brother is folly).” For the LORD {YHWH} had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai’s Warning Saves David
(Psalm 55:1–23)

15So Hushai (hastening) told Zadok (righteous) and Abiathar (my father is great), the priests, “This is what Ahithophel (my brother is folly) has advised Absalom (my father is peace) and the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God), and this is what I have advised. 16Now send quickly and tell David (beloved), ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”

17Now Jonathan (YHWH has given) and Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) were staying at En-rogel (fount of the fuller), where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David (beloved), for they dared not be seen entering the city. 18But a young man did see them and told Absalom (my father is peace). So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim (young men's village). He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

20When Absalom’s (my father is peace) servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) and Jonathan (YHWH has given)?”

“They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem (city of peace).

21After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David (beloved), saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel (my brother is folly) has given this advice against you⁺.”

22So David (beloved) and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan (flowing down). By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

23When Ahithophel (my brother is folly) saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

24Then David (beloved) went to Mahanaim (two camps), and Absalom (my father is peace) crossed the Jordan (flowing down) with all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God). 25Absalom (my father is peace) had appointed Amasa (burden) over the army in place of Joab (YHWH is father). Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra (Jether),c the Ishmaelite [Israelite]d who had married Abigail (Abigal),e the daughter of Nahash (of Jesse)f and sister of Zeruiah (balsam) the mother of Joab. 26So the Israelites (God prevails) and Absalom (my father is peace) camped in the land of Gilead (rocky region).

27When David (beloved) came to Mahanaim (two camps), he was met by Shobi (glorious) son of Nahash (serpent) from Rabbah (great) of the Ammonites (tribal), Machir (sold) son of Ammiel (my kinsman is God) from Lo-debar (nothing), and Barzillai (my iron) the Gileadite (rocky region) from Rogelim (place of fullers). 28They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, [roasted seeds.]g 29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David (beloved) and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”