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he called his most intimate friends together； and communicated to
them all that he had heard of his son's madness。 He committed
himself to God； to judge between them about all their actions；
and left the care of his royal palace to his ten concubines； and
went away from Jerusalem； being willingly accompanied by the rest
of the multitude； who went hastily away with him； and
particularly by those six hundred armed men； who had been with
him from his first flight in the days of Saul。 But he persuaded
Abiathar and Zadok； the high priests； who had determined to go
away with him； as also all the Levites； who were with the ark； to
stay behind； as hoping that God would deliver him without its
removal； but he charged them to let him know privately how all
things went on； and he had their sons； Ahimmaz the son of Zadok；
and Jonathan the son of Abiathar； for faithful ministers in all
things； but Ittai the Gitrite went out with him whether David
would let him or not； for he would 。have persuaded him to stay；
and on that account he appeared the more friendly to him。 But as
he was ascending the Mount of Olives barefooted； and all his
company were in tears； it was told him that Ahithophel was with
Absalom； and was of his side。 This hearing augmented his grief；
and he besought God earnestly to alienate the mind of Absalom
from Ahithophel； for he was afraid that he should persuade him to
follow his pernicious counsel； for he was a prudent man； and very
sharp in seeing what was advantageous。 When David was gotten upon
the top of the mountain； he took a view of the city； and prayed
to God with abundance of tears； as having already lost his
kingdom； and here it was that a faithful friend of his； whose
name was Hushai； met him。 When David saw him with his clothes
rent； and having ashes all over his head； and in lamentation for
the great change of affairs； he comforted him； and exhorted him
to leave off grieving； nay； at length he besought him to go back
to Absalom； and appear as one of his party； and to fish out the
secretest counsels of his mind； and to contradict the counsels of
Ahithophel； for that he could not do him so much good by being
with him as he might by being with Absalom。 So he was prevailed
on by David； and left him； and came to Jerusalem； whither Absalom
himself came also a little while afterward。
3。 When David was gone a little farther； there met him Ziba； the
servant of Mephibosheth； （whom he had sent to take care of the
possessions which had been given him； as the son of Jonathan； the
son of Saul；） with a couple of asses； loaden with provisions； and
desired him to take as much of them as he and his followers stood
in need of。 And when the king asked him where he had left
Mephibosheth； he said he had left him in Jerusalem； expecting to
be chosen king in the present confusions； in remembrance of the
benefits Saul had conferred upon them。 At this the king had great
indignation； and gave to Ziba all that he had formerly bestowed
on Mephibosheth； for he determined that it was much fitter that
he should have them than the other； at which Ziba greatly
rejoiced。
4。 When David was at Bahurim； a place so called； there came out a
kinsman of Saul's； whose name was Shimei； and threw stones at
him； and gave him reproachful words； and as his friends stood
about the king and protected him； he persevered still more in his
reproaches； and called him a bloody man； and the author of all
sorts of mischief。 He bade him also go out of the land as ；an
impure and accursed wretch； and he thanked God for depriving him
of his kingdom； and causing him to be punished for what injuries
he had done to his master ＇Saul＇； and this by the means of his
own son。 Now when they were all provoked against him； and angry
at bin；； and particularly Abishai； who had a mind to kill Shimei；
David restrained his anger。 〃Let us not；〃 said he； 〃bring upon
ourselves another fresh misfortune to those we have already； for
truly I have not the least regard nor concern for this dog that
raves at me： I submit myself to God； by whose permission this man
treats me in such a wild manner； nor is it any wonder that I am
obliged to undergo these abuses from him； while I experience the
like from an impious son of my own； but perhaps God will have
some commiseration upon us； if it be his will we shall overcome
them。〃 So he went on his way without troubling himself with
Shimei； who ran along the other side of the mountain； and threw
out his abusive language plentifully。 But when David was come to
Jordan； he allowed those that were with him to refresh
themselves； for they were weary。
5。 But when Absalom； and Ahithophel his counselor； were come to
Jerusalem； with all the people； David's friend； Hushai； came to
them； and when he had worshipped Absalom； he withal wished that
his kingdom might last a long time； and continue for all ages。
But when Absalom said to him； 〃How comes this； that he who was so
intimate a friend of my father's； and appeared faithful to him in
all things； is not with him now； but hath left him； and is come
over to me？〃 Hushai's answer was very pertinent and prudent； for
he said； 〃We ought to follow God and the multitude of the people；
while these； therefore； my lord and master； are with thee； it is
fit that I should follow them； for thou hast received the kingdom
from God。 I will therefore； if thou believest me to be thy
friend； show the same fidelity and kindness to thee； which thou
knowest I have shown to thy father； nor is there any reason to be
in the least dissatisfied with the present state of affairs； for
the kingdom is not transferred into another； but remains still in
the same family； by the son's receiving it after his father。〃
This speech persuaded Absalom； who before suspected Hushai。 And
now he called Ahithophel； and consulted with him what he ought to
do： he persuaded him to go in unto his father's concubines； for
he said that 〃by this action the people would believe that thy
difference with thy father is irreconcilable； and will thence
fight with great alacrity against thy father； for hitherto they
are afraid of taking up open enmity against him； out of an
expectation that you will be reconciled again。〃 Accordingly；
Absalom was prevailed on by this advice； and commanded his
servants to pitch him a tent upon the top of the royal palace； in
the sight of the multitude； and he went in and lay with his
father's concubines。 Now this came to pass according to the
prediction of Nathan； when he prophesied and signified to him
that his son would rise up in rebellion against him。
6。 And when Absalom had done what he was advised to by
Ahithophel； he desired his advice； in the second place； about the
war against his father。 Now Ahithophel only asked him to let him
have ten thousand chosen men； and he promised he would slay his
father； and bring the soldiers back again in safety； and he said
that then the kingdom would be firm to him when David was dead
＇but not otherwise＇。 Absalom was pleased with this advice； and
called for Hushai； David's friend （for so did he style him）； and
informing him of the opinion of Ahithophel； he asked； further；
what was his opinion concerning that matter。 Now he was sensible
that if Ahithophel's counsel were followed； David would be in
danger of being seized on； and slain； so he attempted to
introduce a contrary opinion； and said； Thou art not
unacquainted； O king； with the valor of thy father； and of those
that are now with him； that he hath made many wars； and hath
always come off with victory； though probably he now abides in
the camp； for he is very skiliful in stratagems； and in
foreseeing the deceitful tricks of his enemies； yet will he leave
his own soldiers in the evening； and will either hide himself in
some valley； or will place an ambush at some rock； so that when
our army joins battle with him； his soldiers will retire for a
little while； but will come upon us again； as encouraged by the
king's being near them； and in the mean time your father will
show himself suddenly in the time of the battle； and will infuse
courage into his own people when they are in danger； but bring
consternation to thine。 Consider； therefore； my advice； and
reason upon it； and if thou canst not but acknowledge it to be
the best； reject the opinion of Ahithophel。 Send to the entire
country of the Hebrews； and order them to come and fight with thy
father； and do thou thyself take the army； and be thine own
general in this war； and do not trust its management to another；
then expect to conquer him with ease； when thou overtakest him
openly with his few partisans； but hast thyself many ten
thousands； who will be desirous to demonstrate to thee their
diligence and alacrity。 And if thy father shall shut himself up
in some city； and bear a siege； we will overthrow that city with
machines of war； and by undermining it。〃 When Hushai had said
this； he obtained his point against Ahithophel； for his opinion
was preferred by Absalom before the other's： however； it was no
other than God （17） who made the counsel of Hushai appear best to
the mind of Absalom。
7。 So Hushai made haste to the high priests； Zadok and Abiathar；
and to