³² When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai^(A) the Arkite^(B) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust^(C) on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden^(D) to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’^(E) then you can help me by frustrating^(F) Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.^{(G) 36} Their two sons, Ahimaaz^(H) son of Zadok and Jonathan^(I) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

³⁷ So Hushai,^(J) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom^(K) was entering the city.

¹⁶ Then Hushai^(A) the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”^(B)

¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. ¹⁹ Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”^(C)

³³ Ahithophel^(A) was the king’s counselor.

Hushai^(B) the Arkite was the king’s confidant.