t, whoever hears it will say, 'There is a
slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' Then even he who is
brave, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose
courage; for all Israel knows that your father is a great warrior, and
they who are with him are brave men. But I advise, let all the
Israelites be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as many as the
sand that is by the sea, with you yourself marching in the midst of
them. In this way we will come upon him in some place where he will be
found, and we will fall upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of
him and of all the men who are with him not even one shall be left. If
he goes into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and
we will pull it down into the valley, until not even a small stone is
found there."

Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai is better
than the advice of Ahithophel." For Jehovah had planned to defeat the
good advice of Ahithophel, so that Jehovah might bring evil upon
Absalom.

Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "This is what
Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel; and this is what I
advised. So now send quickly and say to David, 'Do not spend this night
at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, for fear
that David and all the people with him be killed.'"

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel; and a maid-servant was
to go and bring them news, and they were to go and tell David, for they
must not be seen coming into the city. But a boy saw them and told
Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and entered into the house of
a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard into which they
descended. The women took and spread the covering over the mouth of the
well, and scattered dried fruit upon it, so that nothing was known. And
when Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, "Where
are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" the woman answered, "They have gone over the
brook." When they had searched and could find nothing, they returned to
Jerusalem.

But as soon as the men had gone away, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out
of the well, and went and told David and said, "Get up, cross quickly
over the water, for so has Ahithophel advised in regard to you." Then
David and all the people who were with him rose and crossed the Jordan.
By daybreak there was not one left behind.

A BROKEN-HEARTED FATHER

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