Hushai

Hushai the Arkite was a trusted counselor and 'friend of the king' to David, who demonstrated exceptional loyalty during Absalom's rebellion. When David fled Jerusalem, Hushai returned at David's request to serve as a counterspy in Absalom's court (2 Samuel 15:32–37). He successfully undermined the wise counsel of Ahithophel—whose advice to pursue David immediately would likely have succeeded—by persuading Absalom to muster a larger force, thereby buying David time to escape (2 Samuel 17:1–14). Hushai's strategic deception is presented as divinely orchestrated to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel and preserve the Davidic monarchy.