2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 17

Hushai Counters Ahithuphal’s Advice

1 Now Ahithuphal urged Absalum, “Let me choose twelve thousand men to pursue after Daud tonight. 

2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged, he and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away, then I will kill only the king, 

3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at Shalum with all the people.” 

4 This plan seemed good to Absalum and to all the elders of Yashar'AL.

5 But then Absalum said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.” 

6 When Hushai arrived, Absalum told him what Ahithuphal had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithuphal’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”

7 “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalum, “this time Ahithuphal has made a mistake. 

8 You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war, he will not be spending the night among the troops. 

9 He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalum’s men are being slaughtered. 

10 Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Yashar'AL knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.

11 “I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Yashar'AL, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Baarshaba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops. 

12 When we find Daud, we will fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 

13 And if Daud were to escape into some town, you will have all Yashar'AL there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”

14 Then Absalum and all the men of Yashar'AL said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithuphal’s.” For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithuphal, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalum!

Hushai Warns Daud to Escape

15 Hushai told Zaduk and Abiathar, the Kuhanym, what Ahithuphal had said to Absalum and the elders of Yashar'AL and what he himself had advised instead. 

16 “Quick!” he told them. “Find Daud and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Yurdan River tonight, he must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”

17 Yunathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at An-rugal so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King Daud. 

18 But a boy spotted them at An-rugal, and he told Absalum about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. 

19 The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.

20 When Absalum’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Yunathan?” The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalum’s men looked for them without success and returned to Yahushalam.

21 Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King Daud. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Yurdan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithuphal had advised that he be captured and killed. 

22 So Daud and all the people with him went across the Yurdan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.

23 When Ahithuphal realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself, he died there and was buried in the family tomb.

24 Daud soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalum had mobilized the entire army of Yashar'AL and was leading his troops across the Yurdan River. 

25 Absalum had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Yuab, who had been commander under Daud. (Amasa was Yuab’s cousin. His father was Yather, an Ishmaalite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Yuab’s mother, Zaruyahu.) 

26 Absalum and the Yasharalym army set up camp in the land of Gilaad.

27 When Daud arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shubi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammunites, and by Makir son of Ammial from Lu-dabar, and by Barzillai of Gilaad from Rugalim. 

28 They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, 

29 honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for Daud and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”