Who was Ahithophel in the Bible?
David's compatriot, during the united monarchy
Ahithophel was a highly respected counselor to King David, known for his wisdom and insight. Ahithophel appears in 15 verses across 2 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Ahithophel?
Ahithophel was a highly respected counselor to King David, known for his wisdom and insight. His advice was regarded as if one had inquired of the word of God. (2Sa.16.23) He was also the grandfather of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, whom David later married after Uriah's death. (2Sa.23.34) However, during Absalom's rebellion against David, Ahithophel defected and joined Absalom's side. (2Sa.15.12) When David learned of Ahithophel's betrayal, he prayed that God would turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness. (2Sa.15.31). Absalom sought Ahithophel's advice on how to proceed against David. Ahithophel counseled Absalom to pursue David immediately and strike him down while he was weak and vulnerable. (2Sa.17.1-4) However, Absalom also sought the advice of Hushai the Archite, who was secretly loyal to David. Hushai convinced Absalom to delay the attack, giving David time to regroup and strengthen his forces. (2Sa.17.5-14) When Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he returned to his home, put his household in order, and hanged himself, realizing that Absalom's cause was doomed to fail. (2Sa.17.23) Ahithophel's betrayal and subsequent suicide are seen as a fulfillment of David's prayer and demonstrate the consequences of turning against God's anointed king. His story serves as a warning against pride, ambition, and disloyalty, and highlights the importance of seeking and following wise counsel that aligns with God's will.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Ahithophel appear in the Bible?
Ahithophel is referenced in 15 verses across 2 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 27:33
- 1 Chronicles 27:34
- 2 Samuel 15:12
- 2 Samuel 15:31
- 2 Samuel 15:34
- 2 Samuel 16:15
- 2 Samuel 16:20
- 2 Samuel 16:21
- 2 Samuel 16:23
- 2 Samuel 17:1
- 2 Samuel 17:6
- 2 Samuel 17:7
- 2 Samuel 17:14
- 2 Samuel 17:21
- 2 Samuel 17:23
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Ahithophel.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Ahithophel?
Ahithophel appears in 15 verses across 2 books, most often in 2 Samuel, which accounts for 13 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Ahithophel?
2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.
Where can I read every verse about Ahithophel?
This page lists 15 of them. Protos carries all 15, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
