17 Then Ahitofel asked Abshalom, “Please, let me choose twelve thousand men, then let me go and pursue after David tonight. 2 I’ll attack him while they’re tired and lacking energy. Once I panic them, all the people with him will flee and I’ll be able to strike the king by himself. 3 Then I’ll bring all the people back to you, like a reunion. You’ll have the man you’re wanting, and all the people will be in peace.” 4 That seemed very sensible to Abshalom and all the Israeli elders.

5 But Abshalom insisted, “Now, call Hushay the Arkite as well, and let’s also listen to his suggestions.” 6 So when Hushay arrived, Abshalom asked him, “Ahitofel has suggested so and so. Should we do what he said? If not, what would you recommend?”

7 “This time, Ahitofel’s suggestion isn’t such good advice,” Hushay replied. 8 You yourself know your father and his men—and do remember that they’re powerful warriors—they’re still furious like a bear in the countryside that’s been robbed of its cubs. And your father is an experienced man of war, and he won’t spend the night there with the people. 9 Listen, he’s probably already hiding in a cavern or some other place. Also, if some of your men were killed early in the fighting, then the rumour would go around that Abshalom’s already lost many men. 10 Then even your bravest warriors might lose heart, because all Israel knows that your father is a powerful warrior, and also that the men with him are very experienced. 11 So this is what I suggest: Call warriors from all Israel—from Dan in the far north to Beersheba in the far south. They’ll be as numerous as sand grains on the beach and you personally will be able to lead them into battle. 12 Then we’ll be able to find him wherever he is, and attack him like dew blankets the entire area, and neither him nor any of the men with him will survive, not even one. 13 If he escaped into some city, we’d all bring ropes to that city and drag the stones into the valley until even a pebble couldn’t be found there.”

14 Abshalom and all the Israeli elders agreed that Hushay’s advice was better than Ahitofel’s. (Yahweh had influenced them to reject Ahitofel’s good advice so he could bring disaster onto Abshalom.)