12. “If so be, יהוה does look on my affliction, and יהוה shall return good to me for his cursing today.”
13. And as Dawiḏ and his men went in the way, Shim‛i walked alongside him on the hillside, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and kicked up dust.
14. And the sovereign and all the people who were with him became weary, and they refreshed themselves there.
15. And Aḇshalom and all the people, the men of Yisra’ĕl, came to Yerushalayim, and Aḥithophel was with him.
16. And it came to be, when Ḥushai the Arkite, the friend of Dawiḏ, had come to Aḇshalom, that Ḥushai said to Aḇshalom, “Let the sovereign live! Let the sovereign live!”
17. And Aḇshalom said to Ḥushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. And Ḥushai said to Aḇshalom, “No, I am for the one whom יהוה and this people and all the men of Yisra’ĕl have chosen, and with him I remain.
19. “And besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be before his son? As I have served before your father, so I am before you.”
20. And Aḇshalom said to Aḥithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?”
21. And Aḥithophel said to Aḇshalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to look after the house. And all Yisra’ĕl shall hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father. And the hands of all who are with you shall be strong.”
22. So they pitched a tent for Aḇshalom on the top of the house, and Aḇshalom went in to his father’s concubines before the eyes of all Yisra’ĕl.
23. Now the advice Aḥithophel gave in those days was as if one had inquired at the word of Elohim. So was all the advice of Aḥithophel both to Dawiḏ and to Aḇshalom.