| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. | 1Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight. |
| 2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king | 2I will attack him while he is weak and weary, throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will scatter. I will strike down only the king |
| 3and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” | 3and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you're seeking, all the people will be at peace." |
| 4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. | 4This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. |
| 5Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.” | 5Then Absalom said, "Summon Hushai the Archite also. Let's hear what he has to say as well." |
| 6So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?” | 6So Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom told him: "Ahithophel offered this proposal. Should we carry out his proposal? If not, what do you say?" |
| 7Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.” | 7Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given this time is not good." |
| 8He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. | 8Hushai continued, "You know your father and his men. They are warriors and are desperate like a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier who won't spend the night with the people. |
| 9Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ | 9He's probably already hiding in one of the caves or some other place. If some of our troops fall first, someone is sure to hear and say, 'There's been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' |
| 10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him. | 10Then, even a brave man with the heart of a lion will melt because all Israel knows that your father and the valiant men with him are warriors. |
| 11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. | 11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba--as numerous as the sand by the sea--be gathered to you and that you personally go into battle. |
| 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain. | 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. Not even one will be left of all the men with him. |
| 13If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.” | 13If he retreats to some city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag its stones into the valley until not even a pebble can be found there." |
| 14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. | 14Since the LORD had decreed that Ahithophel's good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom's ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel's advice." |
| 15So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. | 15Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, "This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I advised. |
| 16Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ” | 16Now send someone quickly and tell David, 'Don't spend the night at the wilderness ford of the Jordan, but be sure to cross over, or the king and all the people with him will be destroyed.'" |
| 17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. | 17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city. |
| 18But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. | 18However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. |
| 19Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing. | 19Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything. |
| 20When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. | 20Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?"" They passed by toward the water," the woman replied to them. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. |
| 21After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” | 21After they had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went and informed King David. They told him, "Get up and immediately ford the river, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you." |
| 22So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. | 22So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one who had not crossed the Jordan. |
| 23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb. | 23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb. |
| 24Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. | 24David had arrived at Mahanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. |
| 25Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. | 25Now Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in Joab's place. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Israelite; Ithra had married Abigail daughter of Nahash. Abigail was a sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. |
| 26So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. | 26And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. |
| 27When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. | 27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim |
| 28They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, | 28brought beds, basins, and pottery items. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, |
| 29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.” | 29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and the people with him to eat. They had reasoned, "The people must be hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the desert." |
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