And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the ascent, behold, Hushai came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: and David said unto him, "If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, 'I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant': then shalt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear." So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city. =§77. The Folly and Fate of Absalom= (II Sam. 16:15, 16, 20; 17:1-16, 22, 24; 18:1-17, 21, 24, 25, 31-33) A. ABSALOM'S COUNCIL OF WAR And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, "God save the king, God save the king." Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do." And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: and I will bring back all the people unto thee: so all the people shall be in peace." And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. Then said Absalom unto Hushai, "Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not, speak thou."