Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "{Thus and so} Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, but {thus and so} I have advised.

Then the troops said, "You will not go out, for {if we must flee}, then {they will not care about us}; even if half of us die, {they will not care about us}, but now, you [are] like ten thousand of us. And so then, [it is] better for us that you be in the city to help."

Then the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die," and [so] the king swore to him.

Then she said, "In former times, {they would always say}, 'By all means, let them inquire in Abel,' and so they settled things.