David Weeps at the Mount of Olives

(Psalm 63:1–11)

But David continued up the [Mount of] Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

31 

Now someone told David:“Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom.”

So David pleaded,“O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 

When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33 

David said to him,“If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom:‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

35 

Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report [to them] everything you hear from the king’s palace. 36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz [son] of Zadok and Jonathan [son] of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

37 

So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city. 16