17. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy mercy to thy friend? Why didst thou not go with thy friend?
18. And Hushai said unto Absalom, No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19. And again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father; then the hands of all that are with thee shall be strong.
22. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23. And the counselled of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the word of God: so was all the counselled of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.