Has anyone done a study of Ahithophel? If so I would sure appreciate some input and differing views concerning him and the portions of scripture referring to him. These are the book/chapters I've found 2Sam 15,16,17,23 and 1Ch 27. Thanks for any input.

Ahithophel the Gilonite

to understand some of Ahithophel's motivation we need to relize whom his granddaughter was.

he was the father of Eliam

2 Samuel 23:34
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, ((Eliam) the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite))

who was Eliam??
2 Samuel 11:3
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

Eliam was the father of Bathsheba so hence Ahithophel the Gilonite was the grandfather of Bathsheba.

You're quite right PP. It's interesting how so many things seem to come to light or make for better understanding when we consider relationships, history and genealogy. Of course we have to be careful too when reading between the lines. Thanks for the input. There seems a lot to learn from Ahithophel when we look.

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"It's interesting how so many things seem to come to light or make for better understanding when we consider relationships, history and genealogy. Of course we have to be careful too when reading between the lines."
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This is why I believe God had this info included in the WORD. The treasures that can be mined from serious study of the WORD are nothing short of awesome. When you find how these people were connected by relations you get the sense you might actually know these folks because they remind you of...and most of all these folks were ordinary like us with ordinary difficulties - the ones we are confronted with are not new to the human experience. Many times we can take lessons by studying these characters....

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Sandra Miller

Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba, as has been noted.

Some had suggested the fellow harbored severe resentment against David for the way he treated his granddaughter and her husband. If this was the case, his actions would not surprise one.

I do understand Ahithophel's resentment of David. Imagine a king raping your granddaughter - that is what David did to Bathsheba - there is no record of this act being consensual. A king gets what he wants when he wants and how he wants and woe on you if stand in his way - this is the way kings think and operate.

And then the king orders Uriah to be placed where he would get killed! Imagine a president doing that to your beloved granddaughter! To add insult to injury, he took this widow to be his wife...

As I consider the emotional dynamics of Bathsheba and her family I can see how God honored her anguish by giving her a son who inherited the throne...

This is my perception of this story - I am looking at it from Bathsheba's view, how a female would think.

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Sandra Miller

Ahithophel and Absalom, David's son, were both great betrayers of King David. Ahithophel had been characterized by great wisdom and by being a great counselor. When Ahithophel joined Absalom in the rebellion and conspiracy against King David, David prayed against Ahithophel.

As described in 1 Samuel 15:31...

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.

David's psalms contain many laments and some imprecations against the enemies of David.

In Psalm 55:12-14, David laments his betrayal by a friend. Some Bible commentators have speculated that this friend may have been Ahithophel (or Absalom or Hushai)

Psalm 55:12-14...

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

This was the Bible's testimony on the quality of Ahitophel's counsel as contained in 2 Samuel 16:23...

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.

As the story progressed, Absalom heeded another counselor rather than Ahithophel and delayed the engagement of his armies with those of King David.

The death of Ahithophel was recorded in 2 Samuel 17:23.

Absalom was killed and defeated.

King David returned to Jerusalem.

ginnyrose on 2013/2/22 "This is why I believe God had this info included in the WORD. The treasures that can be mined from serious study of the WORD are nothing short of awesome. When you find how these people were connected by relations you get the sense you might actually know these folks because they remind you of...and most of all these folks were ordinary like us with ordinary difficulties - the ones we are confronted with are not new to the human experience. Many times we can take lessons by studying these characters...."

You are so right Ginnyrose. In mining God's Word, we begin to find those nuggets which can become so valuable when applied or taken into consideration during events of our and others' daily lives. As you say when we soak up the information we have been given, Bible characters become much more than just names in a book and we realize the Lord used the same type people then as He does today. Isn't that reassuring?
I'm still undecided about the "rape issue" with David and Bathsheba but there is certainly more to the story than adultry and murder nor am I convinced "rape" can at all be ruled out.

After the suicide of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23) and defeat of Absalom and Absalom's rebellion, this is recorded:

And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king prostrating hereself. Then king [David] said, "What can I do for you?" (1 Kings 1:16).

Bathsheeba spoke at that time concerning the threat of another rebellious son of David, Adonijah, usurping and becoming king after David.

Instead, Solomon, son of both David and Bathsheeba, became king.

turn - Thanks for the post.

QUOTE "Ahithophel and Absalom, David's son, were both great betrayers of King David. " END QUOTE

Ahithophel's position to and betrayal of King David is what drew me back to him. Do you have a view concerning his standing with the Lord? How do you interpret 2 Sam 16:23 and was his counsel to Absalom one of grace?

Hi Jimur this was a wounderful idea of a topic for a thread.

also wounderful input by ginnyrose and turn.