2 Samuel 15:27-37

Amplified Bible

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace [you and Abiathar], and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸ See, I am going to wait at the ^[a]fords [of the Jordan] in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

³⁰ And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot [in despair]. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. ³¹ David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

³² It happened when David came to the summit [of the Mount of Olives], where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and dust on his head [as if in mourning]. ³³ David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in the past, so I will be your servant now;’ then you can thwart (make useless) the advice of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵ Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that every word you hear from the king’s palace, you shall report it to them. ³⁶ Their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, David’s friend, returned to the city, and [at about the same time] Absalom came into Jerusalem.