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. 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.
Ahithophel's counsel was regarded as exceptionally wise, accurate and authoritative, as if inquiring directly of God, both while he advised David and after he joined Absalom. During the rebellion his counsel was destructive, aimed to deepen the breach between father and son and to bring about David's ruin and death. In answer to David's prayer that it be turned to foolishness, it was brought to nothing when Absalom rejected it for the opposing counsel of Hushai. It could do nothing when directed against the Lord's chosen, for superiority of numbers counts for nothing when God is not in the movement, so majorities are not necessarily on God's side. Though extraordinarily gifted in intellect, he lacked moral goodness, and using his influence for the wrong cause led to his ruin and suicide.
Counsel and Its Setting
The counsel of Ahithophel was regarded as exceptionally accurate and consistently judged best, as well as wise, authoritative and reliable, as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God. It was so esteemed both while he advised David and while he advised Absalom, by the one as much as by the other. His reputation as a prophet gave weight to his advice as though it came from consulting God himself. Even though he lacked moral feeling, his advice was counted extraordinarily wise, showing intellectual ability is not the same as goodness.
The verse falls within the account of David fleeing Jerusalem and in conflict with Absalom. That account belongs to the subsequent history of David after his great wickedness in the case of Uriah, by which he gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Those later troubles are presented as retribution for his wrong against Uriah, in judgments that followed him through the rest of his life. They fell chiefly on his family, including the rebellion and crimes of Absalom, and with the terrible denunciation of the prophet Nathan placed on record they show how completely that denunciation was accomplished.
Those family troubles grew out of David multiplying wives to himself, with sad consequences in a large family of children by different wives. From that came inability to control his sons, while idleness, luxury and jealousy developed unenviable characters. The troubles revolve around the handsome and beautiful Absalom, a shrewd prince whose ambitions were roused by fulsome flattery poured out upon him. They include Absalom's rebellion against his father and his base conduct, the cursing of Shimei, and the fear and flight of the king on his pathetic journey touching the hearts of his old friends, ending in the defeat of Absalom and the sorrow of his father over his wicked son's fate. David's kindness to the house of Saul still continues in evidence through this history.
That history records in detail the difficulties David encountered, and its detailed faithfulness stamps the account as inspired. It was not covered up or excused. It shows that God does not hide the sins of even the greatest of kings.
Overruling and Moral Lessons
Ahithophel's counsel was prized as authoritative as inquiring at God's oracle, and his reputation as a prophet gave him great influence with both David and Absalom, making him a principal strength of Absalom's cause that encouraged its supporters and discouraged David's. He had been David's equal, guide, intimate acquaintance and most trusted adviser, and Absalom sent for him to Hebron to strengthen the rebellion by his presence, an accession of far greater consequence than the two hundred men taken to Hebron, so that with that influence Absalom counted his cause invulnerable. His counsel during the rebellion was destructive, suited to deepen the division between father and son and bring about David's ruin, and in the crisis it could have led to David's defeat and death.
In answer to David's prayer that it would be made foolish, it was brought to naught when Absalom followed the opposing counsel of Hushai, David's friend, instead. That counter-counsel caused a delay of about three months between Absalom's occupation of Jerusalem and his death, during which David numbered his adherents and thoroughly organized his army under experienced generals while Absalom rallied superior numbers to his standard. That superiority of numbers counted for nothing against David's trained heroes because God was not with Absalom. Ahithophel's counsel could do nothing when aimed against the Lord's chosen, just as Balaam's curse could do nothing, and his course against David is like Judas's betrayal of Christ, meaning that majorities are not necessarily divine agencies, and however loud the profession, however large the following, and however flattering the prospects, ultimate failure is certain if God is not in the move.
His high standing as one whose word was as God's oracle is evidence of his acceptance with God before he turned from David to Absalom and later took his own life, showing that saints can apostatize. Though extraordinarily wise, he lacked moral feeling, showing that intellectual ability is not the same as goodness. His remarkable ability, exceptionally accurate and consistently judged best, did not keep him from a miserable end, for his counsel led to his ruin and suicide when he used his influence in support of the wrong party. The surrounding troubles teach that walking contrary to God's laws brings suffering, because every transgression of divine law carries its inherent curse even when God does not openly reprove and seems to wink at blindness.