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31 David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David said, “Please, Lord, make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”

32 David arrived at the summit, where he worshipped God.[a]

Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His robe was torn, and he had dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you cross over with me, you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and you say to Absalom, ‘Let me be your servant, O King. In the past I was a servant of your father. Now I will be your servant,’ then you can defeat the advice of Ahithophel for me. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, with you there? Tell every word that you hear in the house of the king to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. 36 Their two sons, Zadok’s son Ahima’az and Abiathar’s son Jonathan, are there with them. Through those two, the three of you will be able to send me every word that you hear.” 37 Hushai, the friend and advisor of David, went to the city, just as Absalom also was entering into Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:32 The translation is literal. Many translations take it as a more general statement: where God is worshipped.

31 Now David was told, “Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom.” Then David said, “Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh.” 32 It happened that as David was coming up to the summit where he used to worship God, suddenly Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and dirt was on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you move on with me, you will be a burden to me, 34 but if you want to return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. I used to be a servant of your father, but from then and now I will be your servant,’ then you can frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you there? It shall be that all the words you hear from the house of the king you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Look, there with them are their two sons, Ahimaaz of Zadok and Jonathan of Abiathar. You shall send to me by means of them[a] all the words that you hear.” 37 So Hushai the friend of David came to the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:36 Literally “by their hand”