Bible Strands
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!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — An unnamed informant alerts David that his trusted advisor Ahithophel has joined Absalom’s rebellion. David responds by praying directly to the LORD for divine intervention regarding Ahithophel’s strategic advice.
The words — הִגִּיד (hi.Gid) = someone told [H5046]; בַּ/קֹּשְרִ֖ים (ba./ko.she.Rim) = [is] among the/ conspirators [H7194].
The thread — This prayer sets up the reversal in 2 Samuel 17:14 where Absalom and Israel declare Hushai’s counsel superior to Ahithophel’s, leading to Ahithophel’s despair and suicide in 2 Samuel 17:23. The betrayal echoes the motif of trusted companions turning against the righteous in Psalm 41:9.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to recognize that political survival depends on divine sovereignty over human strategy. It demands a posture of immediate prayer when facing betrayal, rather than relying on personal military or diplomatic maneuvering.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 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 order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- 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 died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- Psalms 41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- James 3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where 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?
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- 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 Samuel 16:23 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.
- Job 12:16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.