2 Samuel 15:31
in 2 Samuel 15Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 15
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThus, then, the Lord knew how to bring to nothing the counsels of nations. We learned in the time of Ahithophel how he cast away the counsels of the princes, when David prayed, saying, "Infatuate the counsel of Ahithophel." Therefore, when you hear someone making great threats and announcing that he will bring upon you all sorts of ill treatment, losses, blows or death, look up to the Lord who brings to nothing the counsels of nations and rejects the devices of the people.
This site's exposition
Ahithophel is among the conspirators
Word reaches David that “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom”. His answer is a prayer that the LORD would “turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness”. The narrative answers the prayer at 17:14, when Hushai's advice is judged better than Ahithophel's.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Was it not by Absalom's own will that he chose to follow advice that proved detrimental to him, though he only did so because the Lord had heard his father's prayer to this effect?
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He had not opportunity for a long prayer, but he was not one of those that thought he should be heard for his much speaking. It was a fervent prayer: " Lord, I pray thee, do this." God is well pleased with the importunity of those that come to him with their petitions. David is particular in this prayer; he names the person whose counsels he prays against.
And one told David,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness - Ahithophel was a wise man, and well versed in state affairs; and God alone could confound his devices.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְדָוִד֙ | vedavid | and David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| הִגִּ֣יד | higid | someone told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לֵאמֹ֔ר | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל | ʾachitofel | Ahithophel | H302 → | 20 times |
| בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים | bakosherim | [is] among the conspirators | H7194 → | |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם | ʾavshalom | Absalom | H53 → | 110 times |
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| דָּוִ֔ד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| סַכֶּל־ | sakel- | make foolish | H5528 → | |
| נָ֛א | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עֲצַ֥ת | ʾatzat | [the] counsel of | H6098 → | 89 times |
| אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל | ʾachitofel | Ahithophel | H302 → | 20 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
וְדָוִד֙and David
vedavidH1732 →999 times
הִגִּ֣ידsomeone told
higidH5046 →370 times
לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶלAhithophel
ʾachitofelH302 →20 times
בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים[is] among the conspirators
bakosherimH7194 →
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
אַבְשָׁל֑וֹםAbsalom
ʾavshalomH53 →110 times
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
דָּוִ֔דDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
סַכֶּל־make foolish
sakel-H5528 →
נָ֛אplease
na'H4994 →404 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עֲצַ֥ת[the] counsel of
ʾatzatH6098 →89 times
אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶלAhithophel
ʾachitofelH302 →20 times
יְהוָֽה׃O Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 5:12He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
it leads to
- Isaiah 8:10
Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 33:10–11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
- Psalms 21:11
Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
- Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Psalms 37:17
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
- Isaiah 8:10
Through
James 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
it leads to
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 3:17
Through
Psalms 41:9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
it leads to
- John 13:18
I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
- John 13:18
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Samuel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, ON GRACE AND FREE WILL 20.41; Basil of Caesarea, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 32.6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Books of Samuel and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.