What was the counsel of Ahithophel?
Ahithophel counselled David and Absalom.
2 Samuel 16:1 - 23
ESV - 1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.
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Asked October 04 2014
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Anonymous
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Kelli Trujillo
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Ahithopel served as the revered and respected counselor to both David and Absalom. He was loyal to David until he believed it was prudent to abandon him and serve Absalom instead when Absalom revolted against David, his own father. The "counsel of Ahithopel" simply means the "advice of Ahithopel." Just as people of influence have couselors in our present day, such as the band of advisors who surround our president on an ongoing basis and offer their advice concerning major national issues, so biblical kings sought the advice of advisors in decision-making. Absalom wanted to undermine his father and gain the trust of the people of Israel, and he sought Ahithopel for a grand plan. Ahithopel suggested two things: First, his advice was to suggest a way for Absalom to shame David and show disdain for him publicly and in a very personal way: Ahithopel advised Absalom to establish a place in which the entire city could see Absalom sleeping with David's concubines, showing the utmost disregard for his father from both a personal and political standpoint. His second suggestion was to send an army after David, who had fled the city. This bit of advice was usurped by another man whose counsel was revered, Hushai, who pointed out that David's expertise in war was no match for any of the men Absalom had gathered around himself.
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