9. Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”
10. The king said, “What do we have in common, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because Yahweh has said to him ‘Curse David,’ who can say, “Why have you done this?”
11. David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came out of my loins is seeking my life. Now as far as this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him.
12. Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.
13. Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, cursing as he went. He threw stones beside him and threw dust in the air.
14. When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.
15. Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, had come to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16. When Hushai the Arkite the friend of David came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king, long live the king!”
17. Absalom said to Hushai, “This is your loyal love with your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No, rather, whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him I will be, and with him I will remain.
19. Furthermore, for whom have I served? Is it not in the presence of his son that I have served before your father? So shall I serve you!”
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?”
21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go to the concubines of your father whom he left behind to watch over the house, then all of Israel will hear that you made yourself odious to your father, and all of your followers will be motivated!”
22. Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he went in to the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.
23. The counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was regarded as when a man inquired of the word of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.