Ahithophel אֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל

David's compatriot. Ahithophel was a wise counselor to David who defected to Absalom's side during Absalom's rebellion, but later committed suicide when his advice was not followed.

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Where Ahithophel appears

2 Samuel (15), 1 Chronicles (2)

Key verses

• 2 Samuel 15:12 first mention — And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 15:31 — And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
• 2 Samuel 15:34 — But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
• 2 Samuel 16:20 — Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
• 2 Samuel 16:21 — And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
• 2 Samuel 16:23 — And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:1 — Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
• 2 Samuel 17:14 — And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:21 — And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
• 2 Samuel 17:23 — And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
• 2 Samuel 23:34 — Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
• 1 Chronicles 27:33 — And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:

Person data: STEPBible.org TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0), adapted. Verse text: King James Version.