27. The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace with your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28. I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word from you comes to inform me.”
29. So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30. David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and he went barefoot. Then all of the people who were with him each covered his head and went up, weeping as they went.
31. Now it was reported to David that Ahithophel was conspiring with Absalom, and David said, “O Lord, make the advice of Ahithophel folly.”
32. When David came to the summit where he would worship God, Hushai the Arkite approached him with his coat torn and dirt on his head.
33. David said to him, “If you pass on with me, you will be a burden to me.
34. But if you return to the city, you may say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king, as I was a servant of your father. As I was then, so now I am your servant,’ so as to counter the advice of Ahithophel.