Hushai was an Archite, that is, a native of Archi, a place south of the portion of Ephraim, near Bethel Joshua 16:2.
It is likely then, that Hushai's title of "friend" of King David does not imply the intimate relations suggested by the term.
On his way up the Mount of Olives he is met by Hushai, whose garments are rent and whose head is covered with dust.
[2] But the king does honour to Hushai's cleverness by sending him to Jerusalem, to "defeat the counsel of Ahitophel".
Hushai persuades Absalom to take him into his confidence, and, in the council held shortly afterwards in regard to the measures to be taken against David, he overrules Ahitophel and obtains a delay which secures the safety of the king.