16
Now therefore sendquickly, and tellDavid,saying , Lodge not this night in the plains* of the wilderness, but speedily pass over ; lest the king be swallowed up , and all the people that are with him.
17
Now Jonathan and Ahimaazstayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wenchwent and told them; and they went and toldkingDavid.
18
Nevertheless a ladsaw them, and toldAbsalom: but they wentboth of them away quickly, and came to a man'shouse in Bahurim, which had a well in his court;whither they went down .
19
And the womantook and spread a covering over the well'smouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known .
20
And when Absalom'sservantscame to the woman to the house, they said , Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the womansaid unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21
And it came to pass, after they were departed , that they came up out of the well, and went and toldkingDavid, and said unto David,Arise , and pass quicklyover the water: for thus hath Ahithophelcounselled against you.
22
Then Davidarose , and all the people that were with him, and they passed overJordan: by the morninglight there lacked not one of them that was not gone overJordan.
23
And when Ahithophelsaw that his counsel was not followed , he saddled his ass, and arose , and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order , and hanged himself, and died , and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24
Then Davidcame to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed overJordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25
And AbsalommadeAmasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man'sson, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash,sister to ZeruiahJoab'smother.
26
So Israel and Absalompitched in the land of Gilead.