19 ^aThen the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.  ‡

20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So ^athe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.  ‡

22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ^ahis house, to his city. Then he¹ put his ^bhousehold in order, and ^changed himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.  ‡