216 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

Marianne. He advised him to kill his father; surely
Absalom would not follow that advice: it was very cruel.

Grandfather. Its cruelty was no obstacle to Absalom.
The advice pleased him well. However, he resolved
before deciding to consult Hushai; so he was called in.
Absalom related to him the ‘advice which Ahithophel had
given, and added, “ Shall we do after his saying? if
not, speak thou.” “ The counsel which Ahithophel hath
given,” said Hushai, “is not good at this time.” He
advised that they ought to take time, and not be too
hasty in pursuing after David, because he himself was
so great a warrior, and his men so valiant; and being at
this time so much enraged against Absalom, doubtless
they would fight very fiercely. Besides, he said that
very likely a party of them were in ambush, who would
rush out against Ahithophel and his twelve thousand
men, who would be taken by surprise and defeated.
His opinion was, that they ought to gather the whole
army of the Israelites from one end of the country to
the other. Then, by the force of numbers, there could
be no doubt of their being able utterly to overpower
David and his small army. “ We will light upon him,”
said Hushai, ‘“‘ as the dew falleth on the ground ; and
of him, and of all the men that are with him, there
shall not be left so much as one. Moreover, if he be gotten
into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city,
and we will draw it into the river, until there be not
one small stone found there.”

George. Well, that was very stupid advice; surely
Absalom would not follow it.