Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New 
York Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

                                AHITHOPHEL

2SA 15:12  While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for 
Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his 
hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following 
kept on increasing.

2SA 15:31  Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators 
with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into 
foolishness."

2SA 15:34  But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be 
your servant, O king; I was your father's servant in the past, but now I 
will be your servant,' then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel's 
advice.

2SA 16:15  Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, 
and Ahithophel was with him.

2SA 16:20  Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we 
do?"

2SA 16:21  Ahithophel answered, "Lie with your father's concubines whom he 
left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have 
made yourself a stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone 
with you will be strengthened."

2SA 16:22  So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with 
his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2SA 16:23  Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of 
one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all 
of Ahithophel's advice.

2SA 17:1  Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men 
and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

2SA 17:2  I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him 
with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike 
down only the king

2SA 17:3  and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you 
seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed."

2SA 17:4  This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

2SA 17:5  But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear 
what he has to say."

2SA 17:6  When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this 
advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion."

2SA 17:7  Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is 
not good this time.

2SA 17:8  You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as 
fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an 
experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.

2SA 17:9  Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he 
should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'There 
has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.'

2SA 17:10  Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of 
a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a 
fighter and that those with him are brave.

2SA 17:11  "So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba--as 
numerous as the sand on the seashore--be gathered to you, with you yourself 
leading them into battle.

2SA 17:12  Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will 
fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men 
will be left alive.

2SA 17:13  If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to 
that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of 
it can be found."

2SA 17:14  Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai 
the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined 
to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on 
Absalom.

2SA 17:15  Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, "Ahithophel has 
advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have 
advised them to do so and so.

2SA 17:16  Now send a message immediately and tell David, 'Do not spend the 
night at the fords in the desert; cross over without fail, or the king and 
all the people with him will be swallowed up.'"

2SA 17:17  Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A servant girl 
was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for 
they could not risk being seen entering the city.

2SA 17:18  But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them 
left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in 
his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

2SA 17:19  His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of 
the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.

2SA 17:20  When Absalom's men came to the woman at the house, they asked, 
"Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman answered them, "They crossed 
over the brook." The men searched but found no one, so they returned to 
Jerusalem.

2SA 17:21  After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went 
to inform King David. They said to him, "Set out and cross the river at 
once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you."

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1973, 1978, 1984 INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY

2SA 17:22  So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the 
Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

2SA 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 
house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his 
father's tomb.

1CH 27:33  Ahithophel was the king's counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the 
king's friend.

PSA 55:12  If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were 
raising himself against me, I could hide from him.

PSA 55:13  But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,

PSA 55:14  with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the 
throng at the house of God.

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