Hushai

David climbs the mountain with Absalom’s revolt behind him, and a friend comes to meet him. Hushai the Archite is ready to leave everything and go along, but David says, “thou shalt be a burden unto me.” He asks Hushai to go back and tell Absalom, “I will be thy servant, O king,” so that he may “defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.” Hushai does it. When Absalom asks, “Is this thy kindness to thy friend?” he answers with careful words about serving whom the LORD and the people choose. First Chronicles calls him “the king’s companion.” The story begins in 2 Samuel 15:32.

11 verses

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 15:32

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

2 Samuel 15:33

Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

2 Samuel 15:34

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 hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 15:35

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.

2 Samuel 15:36

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

2 Samuel 15:37

So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16:16

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

2 Samuel 16:17

And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

2 Samuel 16:18

And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

2 Samuel 16:19

And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 27:33

And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Quick, “the Archite,” “the king’s friend” (1 Chr. 27:33). When David fled from Jerusalem, on account of the rebellion of Absalom, and had reached the summit of Olivet, he there met Hushai, whom he sent back to Jerusalem for the purpose of counteracting the influence of Ahithophel, who had joined the ranks of Absalom (2 Sam. 15:32, 37; 16:16-18). It was by his advice that Absalom refrained from immediately pursuing after David. By this delay the cause of Absalom was ruined, for it gave David time to muster his forces.

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(hasting) an Archite i.e. possibly an inhabitant of a place called Erec. (2 Samuel 15:32) ff.; (2 Samuel 16:16) ff. He is called the "friend" of David. (2 Samuel 15:37) comp. 1Chr 27:33 To him David confided the delicate and dangerous part of a pretended adherence to the cause of Absalom. (B.C. about 1023.) He was probably the father of Baana. (1 Kings 4:16)