23. The whole countryside cried loudly as all the troops marched past. The king crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the troops passed by on the Olive road into the wilderness.
24. Zadok was there too, along with all the Levites carrying the chest containing God’s covenant. They set God’s chest down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the troops had finished marching out of the city.
25. Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry God’s chest back into the city. If the Lord thinks well of me, then he will bring me back and let me see it and its home again.
26. But if God says, ‘I’m not pleased with you,’ then I am ready. Let him do to me whatever pleases him."
27. "Do you understand?" the king said to the priest Zadok. "Go back to the city in safety—you and Abiathar with your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.
28. I will be waiting in the desert plains until you send word telling me what to do."
29. So Zadok and Abiathar took God’s chest back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30. But David, his head covered, walked barefoot up the slope of the Mount of Olives crying. All the people who were with him covered their heads too and cried as they went up.
31. David was told that Ahithophel was also among the conspirators with Absalom, so he prayed, "Please, Lord, make Ahithophel’s advice foolish."
32. When David came to the summit where people used to worship God, Hushai from Erek met him. Hushai’s clothes were ripped, and dirt was on his head.
33. David said to him, "If you come with me, you will be a burden to me.
34. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘King, I am your servant! Please spare my life! I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I am your servant,’ then you can help me by countering Ahithophel’s advice.
35. The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. So report everything you hear in the king’s palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.
36. Their two sons, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan, are also there. Use them to report to me everything you hear."
37. So David’s friend Hushai went into Jerusalem, just as Absalom was entering the city.