Bible Dictionaries
Ahithophel

Holman Bible Dictionary

(uh hihth' oh fehl) Personal name meaning, “brother of folly” if it is not a scribal attempt to hide an original name including a Canaanite god such as Ahibaal. See 2 Samuel 15:12 ). David prayed that his counsel might be turned to foolishness (2 Samuel 15:31 ) and commissioned the faithful Hushai to help Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, counteract the counsel of Ahithophel. Ahithophel led Absalom to show his rebellion was for real by taking over his father's concubines (2 Samuel 16:15-23 ). Ahithophel's counsel was famous as being equal to the word of God (2 Samuel 16:23 ). Hushai, however, persuaded Absalom not to follow Ahithophel's military advice (2 Samuel 17:1 ), this being God's work (2 Samuel 17:14 ). Disgraced, Ahithophel returned home to Giloh, put his house in order, and hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23 ). He may have been the grandfather of Bathsheba, David's partner in sin and wife (2 Samuel 11:3; 2 Samuel 23:34 ).