1. Ahithophel said to Absalom:Let me choose twelve thousand men and attack David tonight,
2. while he is tired and discouraged. He will panic, and everyone with him will run away. I won't kill anyone except David,
3. since he's the one you want to get rid of. Then I'll bring the whole nation back to you like a bride coming home to her husband. This way there won't be a civil war.
4. Absalom and all the leaders of the tribes of Israel agreed that Ahithophel had a good plan.
5. Then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Archite. Let's hear what he has to say.”
6. Hushai came in, and Absalom told him what Ahithophel had planned. Then Absalom said, “Should we do what he says? And if we shouldn't, can you come up with anything better?”
7. Hushai said:This time Ahithophel's advice isn't so good.
8. You know that your father and his followers are real warriors. Now they are as fierce as a mother bear whose cubs have just been killed. Besides, your father has a lot of experience in fighting wars, and he won't be spending the night with the others.