Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice

1  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל (Ahithophel) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם (Absalom), אֶבְחֲרָ֣ה (Let me choose) נָּ֗א (now) שְׁנֵים־ (two) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֶ֙לֶף֙ (thousand) אִ֔ישׁ (men), וְאָק֛וּמָה (and I will arise) וְאֶרְדְּפָ֥ה (and pursue) אַחֲרֵי־ (after) דָוִ֖ד (David) הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (tonight). 2  וְאָב֣וֹא (And I will come) עָלָ֗יו (upon him) וְה֤וּא (and he) יָגֵ֙עַ֙ (is weary) וּרְפֵ֣ה (and weak) יָדַ֔יִם (handed), וְהַֽחֲרַדְתִּ֣י (and I will cause to tremble) אֹת֔וֹ (him), וְנָ֖ס (and will flee) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who are) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him). וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י (And I will strike) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (by himself), 3  וְאָשִׁ֥יבָה (and I will bring back) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to you) כְּשׁ֣וּב (like the returning) הַכֹּ֔ל (of all) הָאִישׁ֙ (except the man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) אַתָּ֣ה (you) מְבַקֵּ֔שׁ (are seeking). כָּל־ (All) הָעָ֖ם (the people) יִהְיֶ֥ה (will be) שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (at peace).

4  וַיִּישַׁ֥ר (And was good) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the saying) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם (of Absalom) וּבְעֵינֵ֖י (and in the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) זִקְנֵ֥י (the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (of Israel).

5  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom), קְרָ֣א (Call) נָ֔א (now) גַּ֖ם (also) לְחוּשַׁ֣י (Hushai) הָאַרְכִּ֑י (the Archite) וְנִשְׁמְעָ֥ה (and let us hear) מַה־ (what) בְּפִ֖יו (says) גַּם־ (too) הֽוּא׃ (he).

6  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And came) חוּשַׁי֮ (Hushai) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֒ (Absalom), וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (and spoke) אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם (Absalom) אֵלָ֜יו (to him), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כַּדָּבָ֤ר (In manner). הַזֶּה֙ (This) דִּבֶּ֣ר (has spoken) אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל (Ahithophel). הֲנַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (Shall we do) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָר֑וֹ (as he says)? אִם־ (If) אַ֖יִן (not), אַתָּ֥ה (you yourself) דַבֵּֽר׃ס (speak up).

7  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) חוּשַׁ֖י (Hushai) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom), לֹֽא־ (Not) טוֹבָ֧ה (good) הָעֵצָ֛ה (the counsel is) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יָעַ֥ץ (has counseln) אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל (Ahithophel) בַּפַּ֥עַם (at the time) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this).

8  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) חוּשַׁ֗י (Hushai), אַתָּ֣ה (You) יָ֠דַעְתָּ (know) אֶת־ (-) אָבִ֨יךָ (your father) וְאֶת־ (and) אֲנָשָׁ֜יו (his men), כִּ֧י (that) גִבֹּרִ֣ים (mighty men) הֵ֗מָּה (they are), וּמָרֵ֥י (and are bitter) נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ (of spirit) הֵ֔מָּה (they), כְּדֹ֥ב (like a bear) שַׁכּ֖וּל (bereaved) בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה (in the field). וְאָבִ֙יךָ֙ (And your father is) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (of war), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָלִ֖ין (he will spend the night) אֶת־ (with) הָעָֽם׃ (the people). 9  הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold) עַתָּ֤ה (now), הֽוּא־ (he) נֶחְבָּא֙ (is hidden) בְּאַחַ֣ת (in one) הַפְּחָתִ֔ים (of the pits), א֖וֹ (or) בְּאַחַ֣ד (in one) הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת (of the places). וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass), כִּנְפֹ֤ל (when some fall) בָּהֶם֙ (among them) בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה (at the first), וְשָׁמַ֤ע (that the hearer) הַשֹּׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (will hear) וְאָמַ֔ר (and say), הָֽיְתָה֙ (There is) מַגֵּפָ֔ה (a slaughter) בָּעָ֕ם (among the people) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who) אַחֲרֵ֥י (follow) אַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ (Absalom). 10  וְה֣וּא (And even he) גַם־ (also), בֶּן־ (the son) חַ֗יִל (of valor) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whose) לִבּ֛וֹ (heart is) כְּלֵ֥ב (like the heart) הָאַרְיֵ֖ה (of a lion), הִמֵּ֣ס (melting) יִמָּ֑ס (will melt). כִּֽי־ (For) יֹדֵ֤עַ (knows) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) כִּי־ (that) גִבּ֣וֹר (a mighty man) אָבִ֔יךָ (your father is), וּבְנֵי־ (and sons) חַ֖יִל (of valor) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (are those) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (are with him).

11  כִּ֣י (Therefore) יָעַ֗צְתִּי (I counsel) הֵ֠אָסֹף (being gathered) יֵאָסֵ֨ף (be gathered) עָלֶ֤יךָ (to you) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), מִדָּן֙ (from Dan) וְעַד־ (and to) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שֶׁ֔בַע (sheba), כַּח֥וֹל (like the sand) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) עַל־ (by) הַיָּ֖ם (the sea) לָרֹ֑ב (for multitude), וּפָנֶ֥יךָ (and your face) הֹלְכִ֖ים (will be walking) בַּקְרָֽב׃ (in the battle). 12  וּבָ֣אנוּ (And we will come) אֵלָ֗יו (upon him) בְּאַחַת (in one) הַמְּקוֹמֹת֙ (of the places) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) נִמְצָ֣א (he may be found) שָׁ֔ם (there), וְנַ֣חְנוּ (and we) עָלָ֔יו (will be on him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) יִפֹּ֥ל (falls) הַטַּ֖ל (the dew) עַל־ (on) הָאֲדָמָ֑ה (the ground), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) נ֥וֹתַר (there shall be left) בּ֛וֹ (of him) וּבְכָל־ (and all) הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who are) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) גַּם־ (even) אֶחָֽד׃ (one).

13  וְאִם־ (And if) אֶל־ (into) עִיר֙ (a city) יֵֽאָסֵ֔ף (he withdraws), וְהִשִּׂ֧יאוּ (and shall bring) כָֽל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (Israel) אֶל־ (to) הָעִ֥יר (the city) הַהִ֖יא (that) חֲבָלִ֑ים (ropes), וְסָחַ֤בְנוּ (and we will pull) אֹתוֹ֙ (it) עַד־ (into) הַנַּ֔חַל (the river) עַ֛ד (until) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) לֹא־ (not) נִמְצָ֥א (there is found) שָׁ֖ם (there) גַּם־ (even) צְרֽוֹר׃פ (a pebble).

14  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) וְכָל־ (and all) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), טוֹבָ֗ה (Is better) עֲצַת֙ (the counsel) חוּשַׁ֣י (of Hushai) הָאַרְכִּ֔י (the Archite) מֵעֲצַ֖ת (than the counsel) אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל (of Ahithophel). וַיהוָ֣ה (And for YHWH) צִוָּ֗ה (had purposed) לְהָפֵ֞ר (to defeat) אֶת־ (-) עֲצַ֤ת (the counsel) אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ (of Ahithophel) הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (the good), לְבַעֲב֗וּר (for the sake) הָבִ֧יא (bringing) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (on) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom) אֶת־ (-) הָרָעָֽה׃ס (disaster).

Hushai’s Warning Saves David
(Psalm 55:1–23)

15  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) חוּשַׁ֗י (Hushai) אֶל־ (to) צָד֤וֹק (Zadok) וְאֶל־ (and) אֶבְיָתָר֙ (Abiathar) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests), כָּזֹ֣את (Thus) וְכָזֹ֗את (and thus) יָעַ֤ץ (counseled) אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ (Ahithophel) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (Absalom) וְאֵ֖ת (and) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); וְכָזֹ֥את (and thus) וְכָזֹ֖את (and thus) יָעַ֥צְתִּי (have counseld) אָֽנִי׃ (I). 16  וְעַתָּ֡ה (And now) שִׁלְח֣וּ (send) מְהֵרָה֩ (quickly) וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ (and declare) לְדָוִ֜ד (to David), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), אַל־ (Not) תָּ֤לֶן (do spend) הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ (the night) בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת (in the plains) הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר (of the wilderness), וְגַ֖ם (and also) עָב֣וֹר (passing) תַּעֲב֑וֹר (pass over), פֶּ֚ן (lest) יְבֻלַּ֣ע (be swallowed up) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וּלְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who are) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

17  וִיהוֹנָתָ֨ן (And Jonathan) וַאֲחִימַ֜עַץ (and Ahimaaz) עֹמְדִ֣ים (were staying) בְּעֵין־ (at En-) רֹגֵ֗ל (rogel); וְהָלְכָ֤ה (and would come) הַשִּׁפְחָה֙ (a maidservant) וְהִגִּ֣ידָה (and tell) לָהֶ֔ם (them) וְהֵם֙ (and they) יֵֽלְכ֔וּ (would go) וְהִגִּ֖ידוּ (and tell) לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (to the King) דָּוִ֑ד (David). כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֥א (not) יוּכְל֛וּ (they dared) לְהֵרָא֖וֹת (be seen) לָב֥וֹא (coming into) הָעִֽירָה׃ (the city). 18  וַיַּ֤רְא (And saw) אֹתָם֙ (them) נַ֔עַר (a boy) וַיַּגֵּ֖ד (and told) לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם (Absalom); וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ (and went away) שְׁנֵיהֶ֨ם (the two of them) מְהֵרָ֜ה (quickly) וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ׀ (and came) אֶל־ (to) בֵּֽית־ (a house) אִ֣ישׁ (of a man) בְּבַחוּרִ֗ים (in Bahurim), וְל֥וֹ (and unto him) בְאֵ֛ר (was a well) בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ (in his court), וַיֵּ֥רְדוּ (and they went down) שָֽׁם׃ (into it). 19  וַתִּקַּ֣ח (And took) הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (the woman) וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ (and spread) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּסָךְ֙ (a screen) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַבְּאֵ֔ר (of the well), וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח (and she spread) עָלָ֖יו (over it) הָֽרִפ֑וֹת (grain), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נוֹדַ֖ע (was known) דָּבָֽר׃ (the thing).

20  וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (And came) עַבְדֵי֩ (the servants) אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם (of Absalom) אֶֽל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֜ה (the woman) הַבַּ֗יְתָה (at the house), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and they said), אַיֵּ֗ה (Where are) אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ (Ahimaaz) וִיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (and Jonathan)?

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), עָבְר֖וּ (They have gone over) מִיכַ֣ל (the brook) הַמָּ֑יִם (of water). וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ (And they searched) וְלֹ֣א (and not) מָצָ֔אוּ (found), וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (and they turned back) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (to Jerusalem).

21  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) לֶכְתָּ֗ם (they had departed), וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ (that they came up) מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר (out of the well), וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (and they went) וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ (and told) לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and they said) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), ק֣וּמוּ (Arise) וְעִבְר֤וּ (and pass over) מְהֵרָה֙ (quickly) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּ֔יִם (the waters); כִּי־ (for) כָ֛כָה (thus) יָעַ֥ץ (has counseld) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (against you⁺) אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃ (Ahithophel).

22  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֗ד (David) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him) וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ (and they passed over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (the Jordan). עַד־ (Until) א֣וֹר (the light) הַבֹּ֗קֶר (of the morning) עַד־ (even) אַחַד֙ (one of them) לֹ֣א (not) נֶעְדָּ֔ר (was left) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) לֹא־ (not) עָבַ֖ר (had gone over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (the Jordan).

23  וַאֲחִיתֹ֣פֶל (And Ahithophel) רָאָ֗ה (saw) כִּ֣י (that) לֹ֣א (not) נֶעֶשְׂתָה֮ (was followed) עֲצָתוֹ֒ (his counsel), וַיַּחֲבֹ֣שׁ (and he saddled) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲמ֗וֹר (a donkey), וַיָּ֜קָם (and arose), וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (and went home) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתוֹ֙ (his house), אֶל־ (to) עִיר֔וֹ (his city), וַיְצַ֥ו (and he put in order) אֶל־ (unto) בֵּית֖וֹ (his house) וַיֵּחָנַ֑ק (and hanged himself) וַיָּ֕מָת (and he died), וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר (and he was buried) בְּקֶ֥בֶר (in tomb) אָבִֽיו׃ס (of his father).

24  וְדָוִ֖ד (And David) בָּ֣א (went) מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה (to Mahanaim), וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֗ם (and Absalom) עָבַר֙ (passed over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (the Jordan)— ה֕וּא (he) וְכָל־ (and all) אִ֥ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 25  וְאֶת־ (And) עֲמָשָׂ֗א (Amasa) שָׂ֧ם (had appointed) אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ם (Absalom) תַּ֥חַת (instead) יוֹאָ֖ב (of Joab) עַל־ (Captain) הַצָּבָ֑א (of the army). וַעֲמָשָׂ֣א (And Amasa was) בֶן־ (son) אִ֗ישׁ (of a man) וּשְׁמוֹ֙ (and his name was) יִתְרָ֣א (Ithra) הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔י (the Israelite), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּא֙ (had gone in) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִיגַ֣ל (Abigail) בַּת־ (the daughter) נָחָ֔שׁ (of Nahash), אֲח֥וֹת (sister) צְרוּיָ֖ה (of Zeruiah), אֵ֥ם (mother) יוֹאָֽב׃ (of Joab). 26  וַיִּ֤חַן (And encamped) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (and Absalom) אֶ֖רֶץ (in the land) הַגִּלְעָֽד׃ס (of the Gilead).

27  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass), כְּב֥וֹא (when had come) דָוִ֖ד (David) מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה (to Mahanaim), וְשֹׁבִ֨י (that Shobi) בֶן־ (son) נָחָ֜שׁ (of Nahash) מֵרַבַּ֣ת (from Rabbah) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) עַמּ֗וֹן (of Ammon), וּמָכִ֤יר (and Machir) בֶּן־ (son) עַמִּיאֵל֙ (of Ammiel) מִלֹּ֣א (from Lo) דְבָ֔ר (Debar), וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י (and Barzillai) הַגִּלְעָדִ֖י (the Gileadite) מֵרֹגְלִֽים׃ (from Rogelim) 28  מִשְׁכָּ֤ב (beds), וְסַפּוֹת֙ (and basins), וּכְלִ֣י (and vessel) יוֹצֵ֔ר (earthen), וְחִטִּ֥ים (and wheat), וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים (and barley), וְקֶ֣מַח (and flour), וְקָלִ֑י (and parched), וּפ֥וֹל (and beans), וַעֲדָשִׁ֖ים (and lentils), וְקָלִֽי׃ (and roasted grain), 29  וּדְבַ֣שׁ (and honey), וְחֶמְאָ֗ה (and curds), וְצֹאן֙ (and sheep), וּשְׁפ֣וֹת (and cheese) בָּקָ֔ר (of the herd), הִגִּ֧ישׁוּ (they brought near) לְדָוִ֛ד (for David) וְלָעָ֥ם (and the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) לֶאֱכ֑וֹל (to eat). כִּ֣י (For) אָמְר֔וּ (they said), הָעָ֗ם (The people) רָעֵ֛ב (are hungry) וְעָיֵ֥ף (and weary) וְצָמֵ֖א (and thirsty) בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (in the wilderness).