2 Samuel 17:1-3

Contemporary English Version

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom:

Let me choose 12,000 men and attack David tonight, ² while he is tired and discouraged. He will panic, and everyone with him will run away. I won't kill anyone except David, ³ since he's the one you want to get rid of. Then I'll bring the whole nation back to you like a bride coming home to her husband.^[a] This way there won't be a civil war.