Study Desk

So Hushai said to Absalom, "^(C1)This time the advice that Ahithophel has ^(F1)given is not good."

Then Hushai said, "You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are ^(F1)fierce, ^(C1)like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an ^(F2)expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people.

"Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!'

"And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^(C1)will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.

"But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^(C1)from Dan even to Beersheba, ^(C2)like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that ^(F1)you personally go into battle.

"Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will ^(F1)fall on him ^(C1)just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.

"And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^(C1)drag it into the ^(F1)valley until not even a pebble is found there."

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For ^(C1)the LORD had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the LORD to bring disaster on Absalom.