The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

17 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. ² I will come upon him while he is ^(A)weary and weak, and make him ^[a]afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will ^(B)strike only the king. ³ Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” ⁴ And the saying pleased Absalom and all the ^(C)elders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

⁵ Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he ^(D)says too.” ⁶ And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

⁷ So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. ⁸ For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like ^(E)a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. ⁹ Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will ^(F)melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. ¹¹ Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^(G)from Dan to Beersheba, ^(H)like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. ¹² So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. ¹³ Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will ^(I)pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

¹⁴ So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For ^(J)the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

^15 (K)Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. ¹⁶ Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night ^(L)in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” ^17 (M)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz ^(N)stayed at ^(O)En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. ¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house ^(P)in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. ^19 (Q)Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. ²⁰ And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So ^(R)the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ²¹ Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, ^(S)“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” ²² So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ^(T)his house, to his city. Then he ^[b]put his ^(U)household in order, and ^(V)hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ Then David went to ^(W)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ And Absalom made ^(X)Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ^[c]Jithra, an ^[d]Israelite, who had gone in to ^(Y)Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that ^(Z)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, ^(AA)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and ^(AB)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty ^(AC)in the wilderness.”

God the Rock of Salvation

The Plot to Kill Jesus^(A)

26 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, ^2 (B)“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

^3 (C)Then the chief priests, ^[a]the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, ⁴ and ^(D)plotted to take Jesus by ^[b]trickery and kill Him. ⁵ But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the ^(E)people.”

The Anointing at Bethany^(F)

⁶ And when Jesus was in ^(G)Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. ^8 (H)But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

¹⁰ But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. ^11 (I)For you have the poor with you always, but ^(J)Me you do not have always. ¹² For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My ^(K)burial. ¹³ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus^(L)

^14 (M)Then one of the twelve, called ^(N)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, ^(O)“What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Jesus Celebrates Passover with His Disciples^(P)

^17 (Q)Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸ And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, ^(R)“My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”

¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

^20 (S)When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. ²¹ Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will ^(T)betray Me.”

²² And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

²³ He answered and said, ^(U)“He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man indeed goes just ^(V)as it is written of Him, but ^(W)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(X)It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

He said to him, “You have said it.”

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper^(Y)

^26 (Z)And as they were eating, ^(AA)Jesus took bread, ^[c]blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; ^(AB)this is My body.”

²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ^(AC)“Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For ^(AD)this is My blood ^(AE)of the ^[d]new covenant, which is shed ^(AF)for many for the ^[e]remission of sins. ²⁹ But ^(AG)I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on ^(AH)until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

^30 (AI)And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(AJ)

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, ^(AK)“All of you will ^(AL)be ^[f]made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

³² But after I have been raised, ^(AN)I will go before you to Galilee.”

³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are ^[g]made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

³⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(AO)“Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.

The Prayer in the Garden^(AP)

^36 (AQ)Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and ^(AR)the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, ^(AS)“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and ^(AT)prayed, saying, ^(AU)“O My Father, if it is possible, ^(AV)let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, ^(AW)not as I will, but as You will.”

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ^41 (AX)Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. ^(AY)The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, ^[h]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour ^[i]is at hand, and the Son of Man is being ^(AZ)betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane^(BA)

⁴⁷ And ^(BB)while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

⁴⁸ Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” ⁴⁹ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” ^(BC)and kissed Him.

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, ^(BD)“Friend, why have you come?”

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. ⁵¹ And suddenly, ^(BE)one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁵² But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, ^(BF)for all who take the sword will ^[j]perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with ^(BG)more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, ^(BH)that it must happen thus?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this was done that the ^(BI)Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then ^(BJ)all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin^(BK)

^57 (BL)And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ⁵⁸ But ^(BM)Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests, ^[k]the elders, and all the council sought ^(BN)false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, ^60 [l]but found none. Even though ^(BO)many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last ^(BP)two ^[m]false witnesses came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This fellow said, ^(BQ)‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

^62 (BR)And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” ⁶³ But ^(BS)Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ^(BT)“I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, ^(BU)hereafter you will see the Son of Man ^(BV)sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

^65 (BW)Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His ^(BX)blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

They answered and said, ^(BY)“He is deserving of death.”

^67 (BZ)Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and ^(CA)others struck Him with ^[n]the palms of their hands, ⁶⁸ saying, ^(CB)“Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly^(CC)

^69 (CD)Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

⁷¹ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

⁷³ And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your ^(CE)speech betrays you.”

⁷⁴ Then ^(CF)he began to ^[o]curse and ^[p]swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ^(CG)“Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.