1. Ahithophel also said to Absalom, “Now, let me choose 12,000 men to chase David tonight.
2. I will catch him while he is tired and weak. I will frighten him, and all his people will run away. But I will kill only King David.
3. Then I will bring all the people back to you. If David is dead, all the people will come back in peace.”
4. This plan seemed good to Absalom and all the leaders of Israel.
5. But Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Arkite. I also want to hear what he says.”
6. Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to Hushai, “This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, tell us.”
7. Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not good this time.”
8. Hushai added, “You know that your father and his men are strong men. They are as dangerous as a wild bear when something has taken its cubs. Your father is a skilled fighter. He will not stay all night with the people.
9. He is probably already hiding in a cave or some other place. If your father attacks your men first, people will hear the news and think, ‘Absalom’s followers are losing!’
10. Then even your bravest men will be frightened, because all the Israelites know that your father is a powerful soldier and that his men are very brave.
11. “This is what I suggest: You must gather all the Israelites together from Dan to Beersheba. Then there will be many people, like the sand by the sea. Then you yourself must go into the battle.
12. We will catch David wherever he is hiding and attack him with so many soldiers that they will be like the dew that covers the ground. We will kill David and all of his men—no one will be left alive.
13. But if David escapes into a city, all the Israelites can bring ropes to that city and pull its walls down into the valley. Not even a small stone will be left in that city.”
14. Absalom and all the Israelites said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” Actually, Ahithophel’s advice was good, but they said this because the Lord had decided to make Ahithophel’s advice useless. He did this to punish Absalom.
15. Hushai told the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, what was said. He told them what Ahithophel suggested to Absalom and the leaders of Israel. Hushai also told them what he himself had suggested. He said,
16. “Send a message to David now! Tell him not to spend the night at the places where people cross into the desert. Tell him to go across the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, the king and all his people will not be caught.”