While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.
When Ahithophel realised that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his home town. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Then someone reported to David, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ ‘Lord,’ David pleaded, ‘please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness! ’
The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.
When the Ammonites realised they had become repulsive to David, they hired twenty thousand foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.
Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took over the entire region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He called Bashan by his own name, Jair’s Villages, as it is today.
Then David asked Ahimelech the Hethite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, ‘Who will go with me into the camp to Saul? ’ ‘I’ll go with you,’ answered Abishai.