Absalom, apparently astonished at this, said to him, "Is this thy love to thy friend (David)? why wentest thou not with thy friend?" But Hushai replied, "No; but whom Jehovah hath chosen, and this people (i.e., the people who had entered Jerusalem with Absalom), and all the men of Israel (i.e., the whole nation), to him (לא for לו, Keri) will I belong, and will remain with him. And again, whom should I serve? Is it not before his son? As I have served thy father, so will I be before thee" (i.e., serve thee). With great craftiness, Hushai declared at the very outset that Jehovah had chosen Absalom - at least he could not come to any other conclusion, judging from the results. And under such circumstances he could not have any doubt as to whom it was his duty to serve. As he had formerly served the father, so now he would serve his son Absalom. In this way he succeeded in completely deceiving Absalom, so that he placed unbounded confidence in him.

2 Samuel 17:1 Parallel Commentaries

I will arise

Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

Isaiah 59:7,8 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity...

this night

Psalm 3:3-5 But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head...

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, LORD, only make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 109:2-4 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue...