HUSHAI hŏŏsh’ ī (חוּשַׁ֥י). 1. An Archite, from the territory W of Bethel (Josh 16:1, 2) who held the position of trust called “king’s friend” to David (1 Chron 27:33). When Absalom rebelled, Hushai came out to join the fleeing king, but David asked him to return to Jerusalem and to pretend to favor Absalom, in order that he might defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, David’s counselor, who had gone over to Absalom (2 Sam 15:32-37). Ahithophel and Hushai both advised Absalom how to defeat David (2 Sam 16:15-17:4), but Absalom adopted Hushai’s advice. Hushai then sent word to David to escape across the Jordan (2 Sam 17:15-22). When Ahithophel found that his advice was not taken, he hanged himself (2 Sam 17:23).

2. In 1 Kings 4:16 RSV, “Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth,” Hushai is the father of one of the twelve officers who provisioned King Solomon’s court. He may be the same Hushai as 1 above, but the geographical indications render this improbable.