17. But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. “No!” said Hushai to Absalom. “For the one whom Adonai has chosen—as well as these people, all the men of Israel—his I will be and with him I will stay.
19. Besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I be in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What should we do?”
21. So Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go to your father’s concubines whom he has left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself abhorrent to your father and the hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”
22. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23. Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was like inquiring for the word of God—so was all of Ahithophel’s counsel both with David and with Absalom.