2 Samuel 16:15-22

Common English Bible

Ahithophel’s advice

¹⁵ Now Absalom and all the Israelites entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁶ Then David’s friend Hushai, who was from Erek, approached Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this how you show loyal love to your friend? Why didn’t you go with him?”

¹⁸ “No,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “I will belong to the one chosen by the Lord, by this people, and by all Israel, and I will stay with him. ¹⁹ What’s more, whom should I serve if not David’s son? I served your father, and so I will serve you in the same way.”

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice then. What should we do?”

²¹ “Have sex with your father’s secondary wives—the ones he left to take care of the palace,” Ahithophel told Absalom. “Then all Israel will hear that you have alienated yourself from your father, and everyone who supports you will be encouraged.”

²² So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he had sex with his father’s secondary wives in plain sight before all Israel.