and informed him accurately of all the
counsels of Absalom. So he commanded those that were with him to pass
over Jordan while it was night, and not to delay at all on that account.

8. But Ahithophel, on rejection of his advice, got upon his ass, and
rode away to his own country, Gilon; and, calling his family together,
he told them distinctly what advice he had given Absalom; and since he
had not been persuaded by it, he said he would evidently perish, and
this in no long time, and that David would overcome him, and return to
his kingdom again; so he said it was better that he should take his
own life away with freedom and magnanimity, than expose himself to
be punished by David, in opposition to whom he had acted entirely for
Absalom. When he had discoursed thus to them, he went into the inmost
room of his house, and hanged himself; and thus was the death of
Ahithophel, who was self-condemned; and when his relations had taken him
down from the halter, they took care of his funeral. Now, as for David,
he passed over Jordan, as we have said already, and came to Mahanaim,
every fine and very strong city; and all the chief men of the country
received him with great pleasure, both out of the shame they had that he
should be forced to flee away [from Jerusalem], and out of the respect
they bare him while he was in his former prosperity. These were
Barzillai the Gileadite, and Siphar the ruler among the Ammonites,
and Machir the principal man of Gilead; and these furnished him with
plentiful provisions for himself and his followers, insomuch that they
wanted no beds nor blankets for them, nor loaves of bread, nor wine;
nay, they brought them a great many cattle for slaughter, and afforded
them what furniture they wanted for their refreshment when they were
weary, and for food, with plenty of other necessaries.

CHAPTER 10. How, When Absalom Was Beaten, He Was Caught In A Tree By His
Hair And Was Slain

1. And this was the state of David and his followers: but Absalom got
together a vast army of the Hebrews to oppose his father, and passed
therewith over the river Jordan, and sat down not far off Mahanaim, in
the country of Gilead. He appointed Amasa to be captain of all his
host, instead of Joab his kinsman: his father was Ithra and his mother
Abigail: now she and Zeruiah, the mother of Joab, were David's sisters.
But when David had numbered his followers, and found them to be about
four thousand, he resolved not