Ahithophel Bible Study

The Second Book of Samuel
Chapter 17

Ahithophel Bible Study Lesson
Hushai and Ahithophel in the Bible Event

Hi! Happy to have you back at Daily Bread once again! Recently in our story, David has fled Jerusalem and his son Absalom has moved forward in his endeavor of overtaking the kingdom. Let's find out what their next step was.

Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me chose 12,000 men and go after David tonight. I'll sneak up on him while he is tired and shorthanded and scare him. All the people that are with him will run away and I'll kill only the king and bring back all the people to you. All you need to do is kill the king, then the people will be content with following you." Absalom and the leaders of Israel liked this idea a lot.

Then Absalom said, "Call for Hushai and let's hear what he has to say." When Hushai came to him, Absalom filled him in on the plan and asked what he thought about it and if they should pursue it.

Ahithophel Bible Study Teaching
Hushai and Ahithophel in the Bible Story

Hushai responded, "Ahithophel's advice isn't a good idea. You know your father and his men and how strong they are ... Well, they're irritated in their minds right now, like a bear robbed of her cubs. Your father is a man of war ... He knows better than to sleep alongside of the people. Right now he's hidden in some pit or somewhere apart from them and when the first of your men have fallen, word will spread that Absalom's followers are getting slaughtered. Even your bravest men who have a heart like a lion, will utterly melt because everyone in Israel knows David's reputation and the strength of his men.

So, I advise that you gather all of Israel together, and you lead them yourself into battle. That way you'll have a huge army. When we find where David is, we'll fall on him like dew falls on the ground, and none of his men will survive. If he has escaped into a city, we'll surround the city and destroy it."

Absalom and the leaders of Israel agreed that Hushai's advice was better than Ahithophel's advice. Of course, it was the Lord that caused Absalom to prefer the advice of Hushai over the suggestion of Ahithophel.

Ahithophel Bible Study Teaching
Hushai and Ahithophel in the Bible Debate

Obviously Hushai had to tell Absalom a more sure plan than Ahithophel, even as risky as it was, so Hushai, knowing David was in grave danger, told Zadok and Abiathar (the high priests) what Ahithophel had suggested and what Hushai had advised.

"Tell David to quickly leave the plains of the wilderness or he and his men will die." Jonathan and Ahimaaz (Zadok and Abiathar's sons who were appointed messengers between Hushai and David) were hidden outside of Jerusalem so they wouldn't be seen, and the priests sent a maidservant they could trust to give them the message, and they speedily took the message to David.

But a young boy saw what was happening and told Absalom ... But they left quickly and went to a man's house in Bahurim (the same town where Shimei was cursing David). The man had a well in his yard and they snuck down inside and hid. The man's wife covered the well and laid corn around it to conceal it.

When Absalom's servants approached the woman, they asked, "Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman told him, "They went over the brook." So they searched over the brook but couldn't find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

Ahithophel Bible Study Discussion
Hushai and Ahithophel in the Bible Saga

After they left, the two men came out of the well and went and gave king David the message to flee. By morning, there wasn't one of David's people who hadn't crossed over the Jordan.

When Ahithophel saw that Absalom didn't follow his advice, he felt so rejected that he went to his home in his own city, put his household in order and hanged himself.

Absalom appointed Amasa commander of the army in Joab's place. Amasa was Joab's cousin. Then Absalom pursued David, crossing over the Jordan River with his men and they made camp in Gilead.

When David arrived in Mahaniam (which was about 30 miles north of the north shore of the Salt Sea and about 7 miles east of the Jordan), several of the wealthy men of the surrounding areas furnished David and his people provisions out of respect of his reputation as a righteous king, and knowing that they would be hungry, tired and thirsty from their journey in the wilderness.

Ahithophel Bible Study Conclusion
Hushai and Ahithophel in the Bible Summary

One of these was named Barzillai, who we'll read more about in Chapter 19 of The Second Book of Samuel. (Perhaps if Nabal, from 1 Samuel, Chapter 25 had been so generous, he might not have become comatose and died. Remember that story?)

At either rate, the chase has begun. Make sure to come back tomorrow to see what happens next in this action packed story, right here at Daily Bread!