History & Narratives Verses

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. {God...: Heb. Let the king live}

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, {was} as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so {was} all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. {oracle: Heb. word}

Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest {is} as if all returned: {so} all the people shall be in peace.

Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. {what...: Heb. what is in his mouth}

For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they {be} mighty men, and they {be} chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father {is} a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. {chafed...: Heb. bitter of soul}

Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that {is} by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. {that thou...: Heb. that thy face, or, presence go, etc}

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that {are} with him.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where {is} Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find {them}, they returned to Jerusalem.