24. Behold, ZADOK also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God's ark; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.

25. The king said to ZADOK, "Carry God's ark back into the city. If I find favor in The LORD's eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;

26. but if he says, 'I have no delight in you;' behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him."

27. The king said also to ZADOK the priest, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28. Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me."

29. ZADOK therefore and Abiathar carried God's ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.

30. 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 who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31. Someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom."David said, "The LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

32. When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.

33. David said to him, "If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;

34. but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.'

35. Don't you have ZADOK and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king's house, tell it to ZADOK and Abiathar the priests.

36. Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, ZADOK's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them."

15. Then Hushai said to ZADOK and to Abiathar the priests, "Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way.

16. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, 'Don't lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.'"

17. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David. For they might not be seen to come into the city.

18. But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.

19. The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and spread out bruised grain on it; and nothing was known.

20. Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?"The woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water."When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21. After they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, "Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you."