Plans for Civil War: 16:15–19 Absalom duly arrived in Jerusalem. Hushai presented himself to Absalom and perhaps with a deliberate ambiguity proclaimed Long live the king! Absalom showed initial surprise that Hushai should support him rather than David; he had not dared to hope that someone as close to David as Hushai could be on his side. However, Hushai argued that the choice of the Lord and the people overrides personal loyalties and that David was Absalom’s father and to serve the son was a continuation of service of the father. He thus appeared to recognize Absalom’s right to rule, by affirmation and by descent. Absalom accepted this without question. He had come to believe his own propaganda.

16:20–17:6 Now Jerusalem was taken, the stage was set for the next stage of Absalom’s campaig…