2Samuel 17

17Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.H302H559H53H977H8147H6240H505H376H6965H7291H310H1732H39152I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the kingH935H3023H7504H3027H2729H5971H5127H5221H44283and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed."H7725H5971H376H1245H7725H5971H79654This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.H1697H3474H53H5869H2205H34785But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well."H559H53H7121H2365H757H8085H63106When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion."H2365H935H53H53H559H559H302H1696H1697H6213H1697H16967Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.H2365H559H53H6098H302H3289H2896H64718You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.H559H2365H3045H1H582H1368H4751H5315H1677H7909H7704H1H376H4421H3885H59719Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.'H2244H259H6354H259H4725H5307H8462H8085H8085H559H4046H5971H310H5310Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.H1121H2428H3820H3820H738H4549H4549H3478H3045H1H1368H2428H112111"So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle.H3289H3478H622H622H1835H884H2344H3220H7230H1980H7128H644012Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.H935H259H4725H4672H5168H2919H5307H127H582H3498H1571H25913If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left."H518H622H5892H3478H5375H2256H5892H5498H5158H1571H6872H467214Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.H53H376H3478H559H6098H2365H757H2896H6098H302H3068H6680H6565H2896H6098H302H5668H3068H935H7451H5315Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, "Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so.H559H2365H6659H54H3548H302H3289H53H2205H3478H328916Now send a message at once and tell David, 'Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.' "H7971H4120H5046H1732H559H3885H3915H6160H5679H4057H5674H5674H4428H1104H597117Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.H3083H290H5975H5883H3201H7200H935H5892H8198H1980H5046H3212H5046H4428H173218But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.H5288H7200H5046H53H3212H8147H4120H935H376H1004H980H875H2691H8033H338119His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.H802H3947H6566H4539H875H6440H7849H7383H1697H304520When Absalom's men came to the woman at the house, they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman answered them, "They crossed over the brook." The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.H53H5650H935H802H1004H559H290H3083H802H559H5674H4323H4325H1245H4672H7725H338921After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, "Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you."H310H3212H5927H875H3212H5046H4428H1732H559H1732H6965H4120H5674H4325H302H328922So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.H1732H6965H5971H5674H3383H1242H216H5737H259H5674H338323When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.H302H7200H6098H6213H2280H2543H6965H3212H1004H5892H1004H6680H2614H4191H6912H6913H124David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.H1732H935H4266H53H5674H3383H376H347825Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether, an Ishmaelite who had married Abigal, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.H53H7760H6021H6635H3097H6021H376H1121H8034H3501H3481H935H26H1323H5176H269H6870H3097H51726The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.H3478H53H2583H776H156827When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from RogelimH1732H935H4266H7629H1121H5176H7237H1121H5983H4353H1121H5988H3810H1271H1569H727428brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,H5066H4904H5592H3335H3627H2406H8184H7058H7039H6321H5742H703929honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness."H1706H2529H6629H8194H1241H1732H5971H398H559H5971H7457H5889H6771H4057