2 Samuel 17:1-14

1Furthermore, AhithophelH302 saidH559 toH413 AbsalomH53, “Let me chooseH977H4994 twelveH8147H6240 thousandH505 menH376 and set outH6965 tonightH3915 in pursuit ofH7291H310 DavidH1732. 2I will attack himH935H5921 while heH1931 is weakH7504H3027 and wearyH3023; I will throw him into a panicH2729, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 with himH854 will fleeH5127; I will strike downH5221 onlyH905 the kingH4428 3and bring allH3605 the peopleH5971 backH7725 to youH413 as a brideH3605 returning to her husbandH7725. YouH859 seek the lifeH1245 of only one manH376H834;1 then allH3605 the peopleH5971 will beH1961 at peaceH7965.”

4This proposalH1697 seemedH5869 goodH3474 to AbsalomH53H5869 and allH3605 the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478.

5Then AbsalomH53 saidH559, “SummonH7121H4994 HushaiH2365 the ArchiteH757 as wellH1571, and let us hearH8085 whatH4100 heH1931 tooH1571 has to sayH6310.”

6So HushaiH2365 cameH935 toH413 AbsalomH53, who told himH559, “AhithophelH302 has spokenH1696 thisH2088 proposalH1697. Should we carry it outH6213? IfH518 notH369, what do youH859 sayH1696?”

7HushaiH2365 repliedH559, “ThisH2063 timeH6471 the adviceH6098 of AhithophelH302H3289 is notH3808 soundH2896.”

8He continuedH559, “YouH859 knowH3045 your fatherH1 and his menH582H3588. TheyH1992 are mighty menH1368, and as fierceH4751H5315H1992 as a wildH7704 bearH1677 robbed of her cubsH7909. Moreover, your fatherH1 is a manH376 of warH4421 who will notH3808 spend the nightH3885 withH854 the troopsH5971. 9SurelyH2009 by nowH6258 heH1931 is hidingH2244 in aH259 caveH6354 orH176 some otherH259 locationH4725. If some of your troops fallH5307 firstH8462,2 whoever hearsH8085 of it will sayH559, ‘ThereH1961 has beenH1961 a slaughterH4046 among the troopsH5971 whoH834 followH310 AbsalomH53.’ 10ThenH1931 evenH1571 the most valiantH2428 soldierH1121 with the heartH3820 of a lionH738 will melt with fearH4549, becauseH3588 allH3605 IsraelH3478 knowsH3045 thatH3588 your fatherH1 is a mighty manH1368 who has valiantH2428 menH1121 with himH854.

11InsteadH3588, I adviseH3289 that allH3605 IsraelH3478 from DanH1835 toH5704 BeershebaH884—a multitudeH7230 like the sandH2344 onH5921 the seashoreH3220—be gatheredH622 to youH5921, and that you yourselfH6440 lead themH1980 into battleH7128. 12Then we will attackH935 David whereverH259H4725 we find himH4672H8033, and weH5168 will descendH5307 on himH5921 likeH834 dewH2919 onH5921 the groundH127. And of allH3605 the menH582 with himH854, notH3808 evenH1571 oneH259 will remainH3498.

13IfH518 he retreatsH622 toH413 a cityH5892, allH3605 IsraelH3478 will bringH5375 ropesH2256 toH413 thatH1931 cityH5892, and we will dragH5498 itH853 down toH5704 the valleyH5158 untilH5704 notH3808 evenH1571 a pebbleH6872 can be foundH4672 thereH8033.”

14Then AbsalomH53 and allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 saidH559, “The adviceH6098 of HushaiH2365 the ArchiteH757 is betterH2896 thanH6098 that of AhithophelH302.” For the LORDH3068 had purposedH6680 to thwartH6565 the goodH2896 counselH6098 of AhithophelH302 in order toH5668 bringH935H3068 disasterH7451 onH413 AbsalomH53.