1Ahithophel also told Absalom, “I would choose out twelve thousand men, and set out tonight in pursuit of David; 2And overtake him while he is weary and weak, and cause him panic; and all the people who are with him shall flee. But I would only kill the king. 3That would bring all the people back to you. You only seek the death of one man; then all the people shall return to you in peace.” 4And that advice pleased Absalom, and the elders of Israel. 5Then Absalom said, “Call in Hushai, the Archite, now, and let us also hear what he says.” 6And when Hushai had come in, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has spoken thusly; shall we do as he says? If not; speak up.” 7And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8For you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. You know your father is a man of war, and will not spend the night with the people. 9He is probably hidden in some cave or pit by now; and if you lose some of your men when you first attack, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the followers of Absalom’. 10And even those who are valiant, with the heart of a lion, shall be in fear; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those with him are experienced fighters. 11For that reason, I advise that you gather all Israel to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as numerous as the sand by the sea; and that you lead them into battle in person. 12So shall we attack him wherever he shall be found, and fall upon him like dew falls on the ground; and not so much as one man shall be left of him and those with him. 13And if he has taken refuge in some city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there is not one pebble found there.” 14And Absalom and his followers said, “The counsel of Hushai, the Archite, is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had determined to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring disaster upon Absalom.

15Then Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel; but I have counseled otherwise. 16Now, go quickly, and tell David, ‘Do not camp tonight in the plains of the wilderness, but quickly cross the Jordan, or King David may die, and all those that are with him.’” 17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; so that they would not be seen coming into the city. And a maidservant took the message to them; and then they went and told King David. 18But a lad saw them, and told Absalom; so the two went away quickly, and ran to a house in Bahurim that had a well in its court; and they climbed down into the well. 19And the wife of the owner spread a cover over the well's mouth, and then scattered grain over it; so that the well was not evident. 20And when Absalom's servants came to the woman of the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said, “They have crossed over the brook.” And when they had searched but did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21And after Absalom’s men had left, the two climbed up out of the well, and went and told king David, “Cross over the river at once; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.” 22Then David, and those with him, quickly arose and crossed over the Jordan; and by the morning light, not one was left that had not crossed the Jordan.

23And when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his house in his city, put his house in order, hanged himself, died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.

24David soon arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom, and all the men of Israel that he had mobilized, crossed over the Jordan. 25And Absalom appointed Amasa commander of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was a son of a man named Ithra, an Israelite, who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, a half-sister of David and sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26And Absalom and his Israelite army camped in the land of Gilead. 27And when David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi, son of Nahash, of Rabbah, of the Ammonites, and Machir, son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28Brought provisions - beds, basins, clay pots, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched pulse, 29Honey, butter, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk, for David, and the people with him, to eat; for they said, “The people must be hungry, weary, and thirsty, in this wilderness.”