2 Samuel 15:24-36

24Now behold, 1Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him 2carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and 3Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. 25The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then 4He will bring me back again and show me both it and 5His habitation. 26But if He should say thus, ‘6I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, 7let Him do to me as seems good 8to Him.” 27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not 9a seer? Return to the city in peace and your 10two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28See, I am going to wait 11at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

30And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and 12his head was covered and he walked 13barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. 31Now someone told David, saying, “14Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, 15make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

32It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the 16Archite met him with his 17coat torn and 18dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be 19a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city, and 20say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that 21whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Behold 22their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and 23by them you shall send me everything that you hear.”