AHITHOPHEL’S ADVICE
Key verse: 23
NIV
The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai
15 Meanwhile, Absalom(A) and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel(B) was with him. 16 Then Hushai(C) the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”(D)
18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”(E)
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.(F)
23 Now in those days the advice(G) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David(H) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15 (A)Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, (B)David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, (C)“Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? (D)Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, (E)whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to (F)your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and (G)the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom (H)on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines (I)in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, (J)both by David and by Absalom.
Read full chapterCross references
- 2 Samuel 16:15 : ch. 15:37
- 2 Samuel 16:16 : [See ver. 15 above]; ch. 15:37
- 2 Samuel 16:16 : 1 Sam. 10:24; 1 Kgs. 1:25, 39; 2 Kgs. 11:12
- 2 Samuel 16:17 : [ch. 19:25]
- 2 Samuel 16:19 : ch. 15:34
- 2 Samuel 16:21 : ch. 15:16; 20:3
- 2 Samuel 16:21 : ch. 2:7; Zech. 8:9, 13
- 2 Samuel 16:22 : See 1 Sam. 9:25
- 2 Samuel 16:22 : ch. 12:11, 12
- 2 Samuel 16:23 : ch. 15:12
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Absalom entered Jerusalem with Ahithophel. Hushai, David’s man, also came to Absalom with a secret mission, risking his life. David asked Hushai to stay with Absalom to inform David of everything and to foil the schemes of Ahithophel. Meanwhile, Ahithophel advised Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines to have an antagonistic relationship with David and to strengthen the cohesion of Absalom’s forces. Following Ahithophel’s wicked advice, Absalom pitched a tent on the roof and committed unspeakable sins in front of the people of Israel. In their grab for power, Ahithophel and Absalom insulted God, David, and the people of Israel.
Ahithophel was a brilliant strategist, but he didn’t know God. Consequently, his counsel led Absalom down a sinful path that would be remembered by all people. Godless and wrong advice can tear us down. We must cast out advice that seeks only worldly success and insults God and other people. Rather, we must follow the counsel of God’s words—to love God and love our neighbors. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor who came from heaven with the wisdom of God. His counsel leads us to the path of righteousness and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, help me to hear your word that is a lamp and light in my life.
One Word: Listen to Jesus’ counsel
