שמואל ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק י״ח

Hushai faces a delicate diplomatic challenge, needing to remove Absalom’s suspicions and prove his loyalty to the new government while secretly remaining devoted to David. He begins his defense by directly contradicting Absalom's assumptions, suggesting that things are not as they seem, or that it simply would not have been proper for him to flee with his father [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

To make his shift in allegiance convincing, Hushai explains that his loyalty was never personal to David as an individual. Instead, his devotion has always been to the crown and the king of Israel. With the government changing hands, he argues that it is entirely natural to transfer his service to the new ruler [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. He claims that a complete and legitimate kingship requires two fundamental conditions: God's selection and the consent of the nation [אברבנאל]. Therefore, he pledges his loyalty to the one who has secured three distinct layers of support: the choice of God, the backing of the people currently surrounding Absalom or the high court, and the agreement of all the Israelites scattered throughout the land [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The peak of Hushai's brilliance lies in a masterful use of double meaning. A subtle difference between how his declaration is written and how it is spoken reveals his true stance [מנחת שי, רד״ק]. Outwardly, to advance his secret mission for David, he pronounces a word meaning "to him," publicly declaring that he will be a servant to Absalom and remain by his side. However, his hidden, inner intention matches the written text, which spells the word "no." In his heart, he rejects the rebellion, silently affirming that God chose David and that he will not be a part of this wicked conspiracy [חומת אנך]. Another perspective suggests that the written word "no" functions as a rhetorical question of wonder, while the spoken word is simply a straightforward pledge of loyalty [רד״ק].