³ and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba,^(A) the daughter of Eliam^(B) and the wife of Uriah^(C) the Hittite.”

¹² While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel^(A) the Gilonite, David’s counselor,^(B) to come from Giloh,^(C) his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.^(D)

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

Hushai^(B) the Arkite was the king’s confidant. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.^(C)

Joab^(D) was the commander of the royal army.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice^(A) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order^(B) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(A) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

⁸ The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maakah were by themselves in the open country.

⁶ When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious^(A) to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean^(B) foot soldiers from Beth Rehob^(C) and Zobah,^(D) as well as the king of Maakah^(E) with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob.^(F)