1 Ahithophel|strong="H0302" also|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Absalom|strong="H0053", “Now|strong="H4994", let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" choose|strong="H0977" 12,000 men|strong="H0376" to|strong="H0413" chase|strong="H7291" David|strong="H1732" tonight|strong="H3915".
2 I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" catch him|strong="H5921" while|strong="H1931" he|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" tired and|strong="H0935" weak|strong="H3605". I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" frighten|strong="H2729" him|strong="H5921", and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" will|strong="H0834" run|strong="H5127" away|strong="H5127". But|strong="H5221" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" kill|strong="H5221" only|strong="H0905" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3027".
3 Then|strong="H1961" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H1961" bring|strong="H7725" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0859". If|strong="H0834" David is|strong="H0834" dead, all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1961" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" in|strong="H0413" peace|strong="H7965".”
4 This|strong="H1697" plan|strong="H1697" seemed|strong="H5869" good|strong="H3474" to|strong="H3478" Absalom|strong="H0053" and|strong="H3478" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H1697" Israel|strong="H3478".
5 But|strong="H8085" Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559", “Now|strong="H4994" call|strong="H7121" Hushai|strong="H2365" the|strong="H0559" Arkite|strong="H0757". I|strong="H1571" also|strong="H1571" want to|strong="H0559" hear|strong="H8085" what|strong="H4100" he|strong="H1931" says|strong="H0559".”
6 Hushai|strong="H2365" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Absalom|strong="H0053". Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Hushai|strong="H2365", “This|strong="H2088" is|strong="H0369" the|strong="H0853" plan|strong="H1697" Ahithophel|strong="H0302" gave|strong="H0559". Should|strong="H0518" we|strong="H0518" follow it|strong="H0518"? If|strong="H0518" not|strong="H0369", tell|strong="H0559" us|strong="H0413".”
7 Hushai|strong="H2365" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Absalom|strong="H0053", “Ahithophel’s|strong="H0302" advice|strong="H6098" is|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" good|strong="H2896" this|strong="H2063" time|strong="H6471".”
8 Hushai|strong="H2365" added|strong="H0559", “You|strong="H0859" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" your|strong="H3045" father|strong="H0001" and|strong="H0376" his|strong="H0376" men|strong="H0376" are|strong="H1992" strong|strong="H1368" men|strong="H0376". They|strong="H1992" are|strong="H1992" as|strong="H5315" dangerous as|strong="H5315" a|strong="H3588" wild|strong="H7704" bear|strong="H1677" when|strong="H3588" something has|strong="H0376" taken its|strong="H0853" cubs. Your|strong="H3045" father|strong="H0001" is|strong="H0376" a|strong="H3588" skilled fighter. He|strong="H3588" will|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" stay|strong="H3885" all|strong="H3045" night with|strong="H0854" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971".
9 He|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" probably already|strong="H6258" hiding|strong="H2244" in|strong="H8085" a|strong="H1961" cave or|strong="H0176" some|strong="H0259" other|strong="H0259" place|strong="H4725". If|strong="H2009" your|strong="H0834" father attacks your|strong="H0834" men|strong="H5971" first|strong="H0259", people|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1961" hear|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0559" news|strong="H0559" and|strong="H8085" think|strong="H0559", ‘Absalom’s|strong="H0053" followers are|strong="H0834" losing!’
10 Then|strong="H1571" even|strong="H1571" your|strong="H3605" bravest men|strong="H1368" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H1571" frightened, because|strong="H3588" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H0834" your|strong="H3605" father|strong="H0001" is|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3588" powerful|strong="H1368" soldier and|strong="H1121" that|strong="H0834" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H1368" are|strong="H0834" very|strong="H2428" brave|strong="H2428".
11 “This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" suggest: You|strong="H0834" must gather|strong="H0622" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" together|strong="H0622" from|strong="H5921" Dan|strong="H1835" to|strong="H5704" Beersheba|strong="H0884". Then|strong="H1980" there|strong="H7230" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H3478" many|strong="H7230" people|strong="H0834", like|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" sand|strong="H2344" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" sea|strong="H3220". Then|strong="H1980" you|strong="H0834" yourself|strong="H5921" must go|strong="H1980" into|strong="H1980" the|strong="H3605" battle|strong="H7128".
12 We|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" catch David wherever|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" hiding and|strong="H0935" attack|strong="H0935" him|strong="H0413" with|strong="H0854" so|strong="H3808" many soldiers|strong="H0376" that|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H3808" like|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" dew|strong="H2919" that|strong="H0834" covers the|strong="H3605" ground|strong="H0127". We|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" kill David and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0376" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376"—no|strong="H3808" one|strong="H0259" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H3808" left|strong="H3498" alive.
13 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" David|strong="H0622" escapes into|strong="H0413" a|strong="H0518" city|strong="H5892", all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" can|strong="H0518" bring|strong="H5375" ropes|strong="H2256" to|strong="H0413" that|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" and|strong="H3478" pull its|strong="H3605" walls down into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" valley|strong="H5158". Not|strong="H3808" even|strong="H1571" a|strong="H0518" small stone|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H3808" left|strong="H4672" in|strong="H0413" that|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892".”
14 Absalom|strong="H0053" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559", “Hushai’s advice|strong="H6098" is|strong="H3068" better|strong="H2896" than|strong="H2896" Ahithophel’s|strong="H0302".” Actually|strong="H0935", Ahithophel’s|strong="H0302" advice|strong="H6098" was|strong="H3068" good|strong="H2896", but|strong="H0376" they|strong="H0376" said|strong="H0559" this|strong="H3068" because|strong="H5668" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" decided|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" make Ahithophel’s|strong="H0302" advice|strong="H6098" useless. He|strong="H3068" did|strong="H0376" this|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0413" punish Absalom|strong="H0053".
15 Hushai|strong="H2365" told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" priests|strong="H3548", Zadok|strong="H6659" and|strong="H3478" Abiathar|strong="H0054", what|strong="H2063" was|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559". He|strong="H0853" told|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" what|strong="H2063" Ahithophel|strong="H0302" suggested to|strong="H0413" Absalom|strong="H0053" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" leaders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H2205" Israel|strong="H3478". Hushai|strong="H2365" also|strong="H0853" told|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" what|strong="H2063" he|strong="H0853" himself|strong="H0413" had|strong="H3478" suggested. He|strong="H0853" said|strong="H0559",
16 “Send|strong="H7971" a|strong="H7971" message to|strong="H0559" David|strong="H1732" now|strong="H6258"! Tell|strong="H5046" him|strong="H7971" not|strong="H0408" to|strong="H0559" spend|strong="H3885" the|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915" at|strong="H1732" the|strong="H3605" places|strong="H0559" where|strong="H0834" people|strong="H5971" cross|strong="H5674" into|strong="H3915" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H6160". Tell|strong="H5046" him|strong="H7971" to|strong="H0559" go|strong="H7971" across|strong="H5674" the|strong="H3605" Jordan River at|strong="H1732" once. If|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" crosses the|strong="H3605" river, the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0408" be|strong="H1571" caught.”
17 The|strong="H3588" priests’ sons, Jonathan|strong="H3083" and|strong="H1980" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290", did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" want to|strong="H0935" be|strong="H3808" seen|strong="H7200" going|strong="H1980" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" town|strong="H5892", so|strong="H1980" they|strong="H1992" waited|strong="H5975" at|strong="H1732" En Rogel. A|strong="H3588" servant|strong="H8198" girl|strong="H8198" went|strong="H1980" out|strong="H7200" to|strong="H0935" them|strong="H1992" and|strong="H1980" gave|strong="H0935" them|strong="H1992" the|strong="H3588" message. Then|strong="H1980" Jonathan|strong="H3083" and|strong="H1980" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" carried|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" message to|strong="H0935" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732".
18 But|strong="H7200" a|strong="H7200" boy|strong="H5288" saw|strong="H7200" Jonathan and|strong="H0935" Ahimaaz and|strong="H0935" ran to|strong="H0413" tell|strong="H5046" Absalom|strong="H0053". Jonathan and|strong="H0935" Ahimaaz ran away|strong="H0935" quickly|strong="H4120". They|strong="H8033" arrived|strong="H0935" at|strong="H0413" a|strong="H7200" man’s|strong="H0376" house|strong="H1004" in|strong="H0935" Bahurim|strong="H0980". The|strong="H0853" man|strong="H0376" had|strong="H0376" a|strong="H7200" well|strong="H0875" in|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0376" courtyard|strong="H2691". Jonathan and|strong="H0935" Ahimaaz went|strong="H0935" down|strong="H3381" into|strong="H0413" this|strong="H5046" well|strong="H0875".
19 The|strong="H0853" man’s|strong="H0802" wife|strong="H0802" spread|strong="H6566" a|strong="H3947" sheet over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" mouth|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" well|strong="H0875" and|strong="H0802" covered it|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" grain|strong="H7383". The|strong="H0853" well|strong="H0875" looked like|strong="H3808" a|strong="H3947" pile of|strong="H1697" grain|strong="H7383", so|strong="H3947" no|strong="H3808" one|strong="H3808" would|strong="H1697" know|strong="H3045" to|strong="H5921" look there|strong="H3045".
20 Absalom’s|strong="H0053" servants|strong="H5650" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" house|strong="H1004". They|strong="H3808" asked|strong="H0559", “Where|strong="H0346" are|strong="H5650" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" and|strong="H0935" Jonathan|strong="H3083"?”
21 After|strong="H0310" Absalom’s servants left|strong="H1961", Jonathan|strong="H0559" and|strong="H6965" Ahimaaz climbed|strong="H5927" out|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" well|strong="H0875" and|strong="H6965" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732". They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732", “Hurry|strong="H4120", go|strong="H5927" across|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" river|strong="H3588". Ahithophel|strong="H0302" is|strong="H4428" planning|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" do something to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588".”
22 So|strong="H3808" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" crossed|strong="H5674" over|strong="H6965" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5704". By|strong="H1242" sunrise, all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H3605" David’s|strong="H1732" people|strong="H5971" had|strong="H0834" crossed|strong="H5674" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5704". No|strong="H3808" one|strong="H0259" was|strong="H0834" left|strong="H6965" behind.
23 When|strong="H3588" Ahithophel|strong="H0302" saw|strong="H7200" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" Israelites did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" suggested, he|strong="H3588" saddled|strong="H2280" his|strong="H7200" donkey|strong="H2543" and|strong="H6965" went|strong="H6965" back|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7200" hometown. He|strong="H3588" made|strong="H6213" plans|strong="H6098" for|strong="H3588" his|strong="H7200" family|strong="H1004" and|strong="H6965" then|strong="H6965" hanged himself|strong="H0413". They|strong="H3588" buried|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7200" father’s|strong="H0001" tomb|strong="H6913".
24 David|strong="H1732" arrived|strong="H0935" at|strong="H3478" Mahanaim|strong="H4266" just|strong="H3605" as|strong="H0935" Absalom|strong="H0053" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H3478" with|strong="H5973" him|strong="H0853" crossed|strong="H5674" over|strong="H5674" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River.
27 When|strong="H1961" David|strong="H1732" arrived|strong="H0935" at|strong="H1732" Mahanaim|strong="H4266", Shobi|strong="H7629", Makir|strong="H4353", and|strong="H1121" Barzillai|strong="H1271" were|strong="H1961" there|strong="H1961". Shobi|strong="H7629" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nahash|strong="H5176" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" Ammonite|strong="H5983" town of|strong="H1121" Rabbah|strong="H7237". Makir|strong="H4353" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ammiel|strong="H5988" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H0935" Lo Debar. Barzillai|strong="H1271" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H0935" Rogelim|strong="H7274" in|strong="H0935" Gilead.