²⁸ I will wait at the fords^(A) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

¹⁶ Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;^(A) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.^(B)’”

²³ The whole countryside wept aloud^(A) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,^(B) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would^[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

² The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh^(A) those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”