17. Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness and loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?
18. Hushai said to Absalom, No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him I will remain.
19. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you.
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel. What shall we do?
21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made strong.
22. So they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the [king's] house, and Absalom went in to his father's harem in the sight of all Israel.
23. And the counsel of Ahithophel in those days was as if a man had consulted the word of God; so was all Ahithophel's counsel considered both by David and by Absalom.