And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please allow me to choose twelve thousand men. Tonight, I will rise up and pursue David.”,

Taking advantage of his fatigue and weakness, I suddenly caught up with him, causing him to panic. All the people who follow him will flee, and I will kill the king alone,

Make all the people submit to you. Since the person you are looking for is dead, the people will be as if they have already surrendered to you. In this way, everything is safe and sound.

Absalom and the elders of Israel found these words pleasing.

Absalom said, ‘Call Hushai the Archite, and we will hear what he says.’.

Hushai came to Absalom and he said to him, “This is what Ahithophel said. Shall we do according to his words?”. If it’s not possible, just say it.

Hushai said to Absalom, “The plan that Ahithophel has made this time is not good.”.

And Hushai said, You know, your father and his people are all warriors, and now their hearts are angry, like a female bear that has lost her cubs in the fields. Moreover, your father is a warrior and will not stay with the people.

If anyone is killed first, whether he is hiding in a pit or elsewhere, anyone who hears will say, ‘The people who followed Absalom have been killed.’.

Although a man is as bold as a lion, his heart will digest. Because all the Israelites know that your father is a hero, and all those who follow him are warriors.

According to my plan, why not gather all Israel together from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand by the sea, and lead them personally to battle.

So wherever we meet him, we will go down to him, like dew on the ground, leaving not a single one with him or his followers.

If he enters any city, all Israel will bring ropes and pull it into the river, leaving not even a small stone.

And Absalom said to all Israel, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel. This is because the Lord has determined to destroy the good plan of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster to Absalom.

Hushai said to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, This is the plan that Ahithophel has devised for Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is the plan that I have devised.

Now quickly send someone to David, saying, Do not stay at the fords of the wilderness tonight, cross the river, or the king and his people will be swallowed up.

At that time, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at Enroch’s place, afraid to enter the city or be seen. A maid came out and told them these words, and they went and reported it to King David.

However, a boy saw them and went to tell Absalom. They hurriedly ran to someone’s house in Bahulin. There is a well in the courtyard, so they went down into it.

The woman of that household covered the mouth of the well with a lid and spread crushed wheat on it, so that there was no leakage of information.

Absalom’s servants came to that house and asked the woman, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”. The woman said, They have crossed the river. The servant searched for them but couldn’t find them, so he returned to Jerusalem.

After they left, the two of them came up from the well and told King David, ‘Ahithophel has set such a plan against you. Get up and cross the river quickly.’.

So David and his people got up and crossed the Jordan River. At dawn, no one can cross the Jordan River.

When Ahithophel saw that he did not follow his plan, he prepared his donkey and returned to his own city. When he arrived home and left his last words, he was hanged and buried in his father’s grave.

David arrived at Mahanaim, and Absalom and the Israelites who followed him also crossed the Jordan River.

Absalom appointed Amasa as the commander of the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Ithra, an Ishmaelite. Ethra had a close relationship with Abigail, the daughter of Nahash. This Abigail was sisters to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.

Absalom and the Israelites camped in the land of Gilead.

David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash the Labahite of the children of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel the Rodebaite, and Barzillai the Rockirimite of Gilead,

Bring bedding, bedding, pots, bowls, pottery, wheat, barley, wheat flour, stir fried grains, beans, red beans, stir fried beans,

Honey, cream, sheep, and cheesecakes were provided for David and his people to eat. They said, The people will be hungry, thirsty, and weary in the wilderness.