16. When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, he said to him: “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17. But Absalom asked Hushai: “Is this your devotion to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. Hushai replied to Absalom: “On the contrary, I am his whom the Lord and all this people and all Israel have chosen, and with him I will stay.
19. Furthermore, as I was in attendance upon your father, so will I be before you. Whom should I serve, if not his son?”