2 Samuel 16:15-23 - Hushai Comes To Absalom

¹⁵ Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶ It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?"

¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but whoever Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will stay. ¹⁹ Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do."

²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." ²² So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

²³ The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.