Ahithophel's Betrayal

Q: Being one of David`s advisers, why did Ahithophel go with Absalom?

A: The Bible does not give any clear reason as to why Ahithophel went with Absalom. It could have been as simple as Ahithophel's allegiance wasn't really to King David, but to whomever he believed was the more powerful King. I only say this because when David was told that Ahithophel had betrayed him to go be with Absalom, he did not seem upset by it. "Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness (2 Samuel 15:31)." David just takes the revelation of Ahithophel's betrayal in stride and turns directly to the Lord in prayer. A prayer that God would make come true later on.

There is an interesting similarity between Ahithophel's betrayal of David and the loyalty of Hushai the Arkite to David. At one time, both Ahithophel and Hushai the Arkite were loyal to David. However, apparently of His own free will, Ahithophel left David to serve Absalom while Hushai the Arkite wanted to stay with David, but was ordered to go and deceive Absalom in order to counter Ahithophel's advice. David said to Hushai the Arkite, "If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 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 (2 Samuel 15:33-34)." One has to wonder how emboldened Absalom must have felt to seemingly have two of David's trusted confidants now at his side.

The prayer of David for Ahithophel's counsel to be turned into foolishness was answered. After successfully convincing Absalom of why he wanted to be with him, Hushai the Arkite is asked to give his opinion of Ahithophel's counsel. After Hushai the Arkite convinces Absalom that his plan is better than Ahithophel's, "Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:14a)." And by reading on the verse we see that God "had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom (2 Samuel 17:14b)." The prayer of David was being answered. In the end Ahithophel's advice was not followed and, in shame, he took his own life. "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 (2 Samuel 17:23)."

In conclusion, it would seem that Ahithophel was simply motivated by glory, power and prestige. His advice was good advice, but because his motives were selfish, it came to ruin. He betrayed David in order to seek out his own glory and it cost him his life. Ultimately, this whole story of David, Absalom and Ahithophel is one of betrayal and tragedy. David was betrayed by a his adviser Ahithophel. Ahithophel committed suicide. And when it was all said and done, David lost his son after Absalom was killed in battle. The reaction of David to the loss of his son is one we all should remember. "The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son (2 Samuel 18:33)!" When we seek our own gain we risk losing everything. That may not have been Ahithophel's motivation, but it certainly was his outcome.