Hushai went on to say, “You know your father and his men – they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs. ¹  Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army.

That night the Lord told Nathan, ¹ 

Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume ¹  that Absalom rules in Hebron.”

Abner advised ¹  the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king. ² 

When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken ¹  to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him, “Here is what Ahithophel has advised. Should we follow his advice? If not, what would you recommend?”

The king said, “Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won’t bother you again!”

Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!” ¹ 

David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: ¹  “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired ²  for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, ¹  has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?” ² 

David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you. ¹  There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. ²  Press the battle against the city and conquer ³  it.’ Encourage him with these words.” ⁴ 

So David sent a message to Joab that said, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.

Then the woman said, “Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.” He replied, “Tell me.”

This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders ¹  of Israel.

He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king,

Then the king replied to him, “Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.”

if the king becomes angry and asks you, ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the wall?

For I made this vow ¹  when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, ²  I will serve the Lord.’”

for you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have told ¹  your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’ ²  That is why your servant has had the courage ³  to pray this prayer to you.

The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.