Hushai’s Counsel

17 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. ^2 (A)And I will ^[a]attack him while he is weary and ^[b]exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then ^(B)I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, ³ and I will bring all the people back to you. ^[c]The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at ^(C)peace.” ⁴ And the ^[d]plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call ^(D)Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what ^[e]he has to say.” ⁶ When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to ^[f]him, “Ahithophel has ^[g]proposed this plan. Should we ^[h]carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.” ⁷ So Hushai said to Absalom, “^(E)This time the advice that Ahithophel has ^[i]given is not good.” ⁸ Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are ^[j]fierce, ^(F)like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an ^[k]expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. ⁹ Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ ¹⁰ And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^(G)will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. ¹¹ But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^(H)from Dan even to Beersheba, ^(I)like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that ^[l]you personally go into battle. ¹² Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will ^[m]fall on him ^(J)just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. ¹³ And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^(K)drag it into the ^[n]valley until not even a pebble is found there.” ¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For ^(L)the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.