2Samuel:17

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* Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom , "Now let me choose twelve thousand men , and I will arise and pursue David tonight . * I will come upon him while he is weary and weak , and make him afraid . And all the people who are with him will flee , and I will strike only the king . * Then I will bring back all the people to you . When all return except the man whom you seek , all the people will be at peace ." * And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel . * Then Absalom said , "Now call Hushai the Archite also , and let us hear what he says too ." * And when Hushai came to Absalom , Absalom spoke to him , saying , "Ahithophel has spoken in this manner . Shall we do as he says ? If not , speak up ." * So Hushai said to Absalom : "The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time . * For ," said Hushai , "you know your father and his men , that they are mighty men , and they are enraged in their minds , like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field ; and your father is a man of war , and will not camp with the people . * Surely by now he is hidden in some pit , or in some other place . And it will be , when some of them are overthrown at the first , that whoever hears it will say , "There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom .' * And even he who is valiant , whose heart is like the heart of a lion , will melt completely . For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man , and those who are with him are valiant men . * Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you , from Dan to Beersheba , like the sand that is by the sea for multitude , and that you go to battle in person . * So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found , and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground . And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one . * Moreover , if he has withdrawn into a city , then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city ; and we will pull it into the river , until there is not one small stone found there ." * So Absalom and all the men of Israel said , "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel ." For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel , to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom . * Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests , "Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel , and thus and so I have advised . * Now therefore , send quickly and tell David , saying , "Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness , but speedily cross over , lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up ."' * Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel , for they dared not be seen coming into the city ; so a female servant would come and tell them , and they would go and tell King David . * Nevertheless a lad saw them , and told Absalom . But both of them went away quickly and came to a man 's house in Bahurim , who had a well in his court ; and they went down into it . * Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well 's mouth , and spread ground grain on it ; and the thing was not known . * And when Absalom 's servants came to the woman at the house , they said , "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ?" So the woman said to them , "They have gone over the water brook ." And when they had searched and could not find them , they returned to Jerusalem . * Now it came to pass , after they had departed , that they came up out of the well and went and told King David , and said to David , "Arise and cross over the water quickly . For thus has Ahithophel advised against you ." * So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan . By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan . * Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed , he saddled a donkey , and arose and went home to his house , to his city . Then he put his household in order , and hanged himself , and died ; and he was buried in his father 's tomb . * Then David went to Mahanaim . And Absalom crossed over the Jordan , he and all the men of Israel with him . * And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab . This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra , an Israelite , who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash , sister of Zeruiah , Joab 's mother . * So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead . * Now it happened , when David had come to Mahanaim , that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon , Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar , and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim , * brought beds and basins , earthen vessels and wheat , barley and flour , parched grain and beans , lentils and parched seeds , * honey and curds , sheep and cheese of the herd , for David and 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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