³¹ Now someone informed David, saying, “^(A)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please ^(B)make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”

³² It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the ^(C)Archite met him with his ^[a]coat torn, and ^[b]dust on his head. ³³ And David said to him, “If you go over with me, then you will become ^(D)a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and ^(E)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵ Are Zadok and Abiathar the priests not with you there? So it shall be that ^(F)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ Behold ^(G)their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and ^(H)by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, ^(I)David’s friend, came into the city, and ^(J)Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

^15 (A)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶ Now it came about, when ^(B)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that ^(C)Hushai said to Absalom, “^(D)Long live the king! Long live the king!” ¹⁷ But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ^[a]loyalty to your friend? ^(E)Why did you not go with your friend?” ¹⁸ So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. ¹⁹ Besides, ^(F)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” ²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^(G)Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, ^(H)and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines ^(I)in the sight of all Israel. ²³ Now ^(J)the advice of Ahithophel, which he ^[b]gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; ^(K)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.