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2 Samuel 16:23

in 2 Samuel 16

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

KJV

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.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 16

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Let us observe from this account of Ahithophel's fame for policy, (1.) That many excel in worldly wisdom who are utterly destitute of heavenly grace, because those who set up for oracles themselves are apt to despise the oracles of God. God has chosen the foolish things of the world; and the greatest statesmen are seldom the greatest saints.

This site's exposition

was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God

Ahithophel's reputation stands so high that the narrator can say his advice was received as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God, the very words the chapter's other counsellor, Hushai, will soon have to overturn by strategy rather than by argument. It is the highest praise Scripture gives any counsellor's wisdom, and Matthew Henry reads it as a warning rather than a compliment, since a man may excel in worldly wisdom while despising the true oracle of the Lord he claims to rival. The chapter closes on Ahithophel at the height of his influence, one step from the defeat that ends in his own hand at 17:23.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

The counsel, &c. - It was received by the people with equal veneration, and was usually attended with as certain success. Which is mentioned as the reason why a counsel which had so ill a face, should meet with such general approbation.
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he had counselled in those days,....

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • וַעֲצַ֣תand [the] counsel of

    vaatzatH6098 →89 times

  • אֲחִיתֹ֗פֶלAhithophel

    ʾachitofelH302 →20 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֤רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • יָעַץ֙he counseled

    yaatzH3289 →79 times

  • בַּיָּמִ֣יםin the days

    baiyamimH3117 →2304 times

  • הָהֵ֔ם<the> those

    hahemH1992 →553 times

  • כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר[was] just as

    kaasherH834 →5497 times

  • יִשְׁאַל־אִ֖ישׁhe enquires-anyone

    yishal-ish-H7592 →H376 →171 times

  • בִּדְבַ֣רby [the] word of

    bidvarH1697 →1440 times

  • הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים<the> God

    haelohimH430 →2601 times

  • כֵּ֚ן[was] so

    kenH3651 →771 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • עֲצַ֣ת[the] counsel of

    ʾatzatH6098 →89 times

  • אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶלAhithophel

    ʾachitofelH302 →20 times

  • גַּם־both

    gam-H1571 →769 times

  • לְדָוִ֖דto David

    ledavidH1732 →999 times

  • גַּ֥םas well as

    gamH1571 →769 times

  • לְאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ סto Absalom

    leavshalomH53 →110 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hebrews 5:12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!6 works1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”6 works2 Samuel 15:12While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.5 works2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”5 works2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.4 works2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 55:13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.4 works1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?3 worksIsaiah 44:25who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,3 worksJeremiah 8:9The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?2 worksEcclesiastes 10:1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.2 worksPsalms 28:2Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.2 works1 Peter 4:11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.2 worksJob 5:12He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.2 worksRomans 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,2 worksJob 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”2 worksMatthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.2 worksJeremiah 4:22“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    2 Samuel 17:23

    When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he…

    it leads to

    • Matthew 27:5

      So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

    • 2 Samuel 15:12

      While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

    • 2 Kings 20:1

      In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to…

  • Through

    2 Samuel 17:14

    Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in…

    it leads to

    • 2 Samuel 15:34

      But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s…

    • 1 Corinthians 1:19–20

      For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

    • Proverbs 19:21

      Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 15:12

    While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

    it leads to

    • 2 Samuel 15:31

      Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

    • Psalms 41:9

      Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 16 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 16 →