2 Samuel 17:5-14 ▼

5 And Absalom said, “Call now also Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what he says too.”

6 And Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him, saying, “In this manner Ahithophel has spoken. Shall we do as he says? If not, you yourself speak up.”

7 And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel is not good that Ahithophel has counseled at this time.”

8 And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are bitter of spirit, like a bereaved bear in the field. And your father is a man of war, and he will not spend the night with the people.

9 Behold now, he is hidden in one of the pits, or in one of the places. And it will come to pass, when some fall among them at the first, that the hearer will hear and say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

10 And even he also, the son of valor whose heart is like 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 sons of valor.

11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be diligently gathered to you, from Dan and to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and your face will be walking in the battle.

12 And we will come upon him in one of the places where he may be found, and we will be on him as the dew falls on the ground, and there shall not be left of him and all the men who are with him even one.

13 And if he withdraws into a city, all Israel shall bring to that city ropes, and we will pull it into the river until that there is not found there even a pebble.”

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For YHWH had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, for the sake of YHWH bringing on Absalom disaster.