14
And the king and his people came tired to Jordan, and took their rest there.
15
And Absalom and the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16
Then Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom and said, Long life to the king, long life to the king!
17
And Absalom said, Is this your love for your friend? why did you not go with your friend?
18
And Hushai said to Absalom, Not so; I am for that man whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have taken as king, and I will take my place with him.
19
And more than this! where is my place as a servant? is it not before his son? as I have been your father's servant, so will I be yours.
20
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your opinion now, what are we to do?
21
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's women who are here looking after his house; then all Israel will have the news that you are hated by your father, and the hands of your supporters will be strong.
22
So they put up the tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's women before the eyes of all Israel.
23
In those days the opinions of Ahithophel were valued as highly as if through him a man might get direction from God; so were they valued by David as much as by Absalom.