2 Samuel 15:30

DAVID RECEIVED THE BAD NEWS ABOUT AHITHOPHEL

"But David went up the ascent of the mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot, and with his head covered; and all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. And it was told David, `Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' And David said, `O Lord, I pray thee turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.'"

This account of David's leaving the city of Jerusalem, barefoot and with his head covered, weeping as he went was called by Tatum, "One of the saddest passages in the Bible."[23]

"Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom" (2 Samuel 15:31). This was a terrible blow indeed to David, as indicated by David's pouring out his heartbreak in one of the Psalms written on this occasion. He responded to the sad news with a prayer.

"O Lord turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" (2 Samuel 15:31). God answered his prayer at once. Hushai agreed to return to Jerusalem to keep David informed of things he might hear there concerning Absalom's strategy,"[24] and also to frustrate, if possible, the counsel of Ahithophel.