Hushai Warns David to Escape

15 kThen Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night lin the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” 17 mNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz nstayed at oEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house pin Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. 19 qThen the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So rthe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, s“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to this house, to his city. Then he 2put his uhousehold in order, and vhanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 Then David went to wMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made xAmasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was 3Jithra, an 4Israelite, who had gone in to yAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that zShobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, aMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and bBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty cin the wilderness.”