Ahithophel the Gilonite, Ahithophel of Gilo
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, both by David and by Absalom. - 2 Samuel 16:23
King David's counselor and a participant in Absalom's conspiracy.
- Home: Giloh
- Burial: in the tomb of his father (2 Samuel 17:23)
- Son: Eliam (2 Samuel 23:34)
- Granddaughter: Bathsheba(?) (Not confirmed in Scripture, but Eliam is the name of Bathsheba's father in 2 Samuel 11:3)
Absalom's conspiracy
While Absalom was offering the sacrifice at Hebron, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite who came to him. King David prayed for his counsel to be turned into foolishness and sent Hushai the Archite to defeat his counsel. (2 Samuel 15:12; 15:31; 15:34)
If Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba, Absalom may have exploited his hurt over Bathsheba's tragedy by connecting it to a pattern of behavior in David after his failure to punish Amnon. Absalom was the type to poison people against David then promise justice to them, like in 2 Samuel 15:1-6. (Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago Live Videos - 2 Samuel 15 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joaR3HYMQBo)
Ahithophel advises Absalom to go into his father's concubines before all Israel
He entered Jerusalem as Hushai the Archite came into the city. (2 Samuel 15:32-37) All his people, the men of Israel, and Ahithophel were with him. When Hushai came to Absalom, he said, "Long live the king! Long live the king!” Absalom replied, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 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. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”
Absalom turned to Ahithophel for counsel. He advised him to go into his father's concubines, whom David left to keep the house. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Ahithophel advises Absalom how to take out David
Ahithophel told Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.”
Absalom and all the elders of Israel agreed. Absalom then consulted Hushai for a second opinion.
Hushai disagreed with Ahithophel, saying, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.”
Absalom and all the men of Israel preferred Hushai's advice, for the LORD had ordained to defeat Ahithophel's good counsel.
Ahithophel commits suicide
When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.