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AHITHOPHEL

(Heb. ʾăḥîṯōpel)

A man from the town of Giloh in the hill country of Judah. Serving as David’s counselor (1 Chr. 27:33), his wisdom was highly esteemed as prophetic words from God (2 Sam. 16:23).

Dissatisfaction with David’s later reign ran deep, and when David’s son Absalom rebelled, Ahithophel (lit., “brother of foolishness” [?]) joined the rebel cause and became the mastermind behind the revolution (2 Sam. 15:12ff.). After occupying Jerusalem, Ahithophel counseled Absalom to defile David’s harem, thus taking token possession of the kingdom, and to pursue David before his forces could consolidate (2 Sam. 16:20–17:4). His admonition to seek David was thwarted by Hushai, one of David’s loyal followers and a spy, who urged delay (2 Sam. 17:5-14). His guidance being rejected and seeing that Absalom’s revolt was doomed to failure, Ahithophel committed suicide by hanging (2 Sam. 17:23).

Some believe Ahithophel to have been the grandfather of Bathsheba, for she is mentioned in 2 Sam. 11:3 as the daughter of Eliam, who according to 23:34 was the son of Ahithophel. It seems improbable that Ahithophel was old enough to have a married granddaughter at the time of David’s great sin. It also seems unlikely that Ahithophel would conspire against the interests of his granddaughter and her son. It is easier to believe that there were two men in Israel named Eliam. However, this would perhaps explain Ahithophel’s defection, having its roots in David’s murdering of his grandson by marriage and the sexual corrupting of his granddaughter Bathsheba.

John L. Harris

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

AHITHOPHEL

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)