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          DASV: 2 Samuel 17    

1 Ahithophel advised Absalom, "Let me now choose 12,000 men,
and I will set out and pursue David tonight.
2 I will overtake him while he is weary and weakened. I will
terrify him and all the people who are with him will flee,
and I will kill only the king.
3 I will bring back all the people to you as a bride comes home
to her husband. You are seeking the life of only one man,
then all the rest of people will be at peace."
4 The saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, "Call for Hushai the Archite also, and let
us hear what he suggests."
6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying,
"This is what Ahithophel has suggested, should we do what he
is advising? If not, what do you think?"
7 Hushai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given
is not good this time."
8 Hushai continued, "You know your father and his men, that they
are mighty warriors, and they are enraged like a bear robbed of
her cubs in the field. Your father is an experienced warrior,
he will not spend the night with the troops.
9 Even now he is probably hiding out in some pit or some similar
place. If some of our troops are killed after the first attack,
whoever hears it will say, 'The followers of Absalom have been
slaughtered.'"
10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of
a lion, will utterly melt in fear, for all Israel knows that your
father is a mighty warrior and they who are with him are also brave
warriors.
11 So I recommend that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan
to Beersheba, as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and then you
lead them into battle yourself.
12 So we will corner David in some place where he is found, and we will
fall on him as completely as the dew falls on the ground. Neither he
nor any of his men will be left alive.
13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that
city, and we will drag it down into the valley, until not a pebble
of it can be found."
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the
Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For the LORD was
determined to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, in order that
the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.

15 Then Hushai reported to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "This is
what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this
is what I have advised.
16 Now quickly send a message and tell David, 'Do not stay tonight
at the Jordan River fords in the desert, but by all means cross over;
or the king and all the people may be swallowed up.'"
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel so that they
would not be seen entering the city. A servant girl was used to
get a message to them, and they went and told king David.

18 But a boy saw them, and reported it to Absalom. So both of them
went away quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had
a well in his courtyard so they climbed down into it.
19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth,
and spread grain on it. No one knew anything about it.
20 When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house; and
they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman told them,
"They have gone over the stream." When they searched they could not
find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21 After they had gone, the two men climbed up out of the well, and
went and informed king David. They advised David, "Get up, and quickly
cross over the water; for this is what Ahithophel has advised against
you."
22 Then David and all the people who were with him set out, and crossed
over the Jordan River. By daybreak, there was not one of them who
had not crossed over the Jordan River.
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled
his donkey and went home to his town. He set his house in order
and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.

24 David came to Mahanaim. Absalom and all the men of Israel crossed
the Jordan River.
25 Absalom had put Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now
Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Jether, an Ishmaelite.
His mother was Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Joab's mother,
Zeruiah.
26 Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah
of the Ammonites, and Makir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai
the Gileadite from Rogelim,
28 brought bedding, basins, and pots, along with wheat, barley, flour,
roasted grain, beans, lentils,
29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese from the herd for David and those
who were with him to eat. For they said, "The people must be hungry,
tired and thirsty from having traveled through the desert."

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