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 skillful 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