17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would^[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. ² I would attack him while he is weary and weak.^(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king^{(B) 3} and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

⁵ But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai^(C) the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” ⁶ When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.^(D) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;^(E) he will not spend the night with the troops. ⁹ Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.^(F) If he should attack your troops first,^[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,^(G) will melt^(H) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.^(I)

¹¹ “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba^(J)—as numerous as the sand^(K) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. ¹² Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. ¹³ If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley^(L) until not so much as a pebble is left.”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice^(M) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”^(N) For the Lord had determined to frustrate^(O) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster^(P) on Absalom.^(Q)

¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. ¹⁶ Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness;^(R) cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.^(S)’”

¹⁷ Jonathan^(T) and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.^(U) A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. ¹⁸ But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.^(V) He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.^(W)

²⁰ When Absalom’s men came to the woman^(X) at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”^[c] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” ²² So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

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

Absalom’s Death

²⁴ David went to Mahanaim,^(AA) and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa^(AB) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,^[d](AC) an Ishmaelite^[e] who had married Abigail,^[f] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. ²⁶ The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash^(AD) from Rabbah^(AE) of the Ammonites, and Makir^(AF) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai^(AG) the Gileadite^(AH) from Rogelim ²⁸ brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,^{[g] 29} honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.^(AI) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.^(AJ)”

Psalm 71^(A)

⁷ But to each one of us^(A) grace^(B) has been given^(C) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(F) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{(G) 11} So Christ himself gave^(H) the apostles,^(I) the prophets,^(J) the evangelists,^(K) the pastors and teachers,^{(L) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(M) may be built up^{(N) 13} until we all reach unity^(O) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(P) and become mature,^(Q) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(R)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(S) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(T) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(U) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(V) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(W) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(X) and builds itself up^(Y) in love,^(Z) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(AA) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{(AB) 18} They are darkened in their understanding^(AC) and separated from the life of God^(AD) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{(AE) 19} Having lost all sensitivity,^(AF) they have given themselves over^(AG) to sensuality^(AH) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(AI) your old self,^(AJ) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^{(AK) 23} to be made new in the attitude of your minds;^{(AL) 24} and to put on^(AM) the new self,^(AN) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.^(AO)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully^(AP) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.^{(AQ) 26} “In your anger do not sin”^[d]:^(AR) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.^{(AS) 28} Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,^(AT) doing something useful with their own hands,^(AU) that they may have something to share with those in need.^(AV)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,^(AW) but only what is helpful for building others up^(AX) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(AY) with whom you were sealed^(AZ) for the day of redemption.^{(BA) 31} Get rid of^(BB) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(BC) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(BD) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(BE)