Ahithophel’s Counsel

Ahithophel knew something was required that would completely remove Absalom from his father’s mercy. Should David’s anger be focused upon Absalom, there was a slim chance that Ahithophel might escape responsibility and evade the repercussions for his traitorous behavior. When David left Jerusalem, he was forced to leave ten concubines behind in his harem (2 Samuel 15:16). Ahithophel counseled Absalom to have sexual relations with these concubines. This act would show utter disdain for his father and establish his own claim to the throne. “With hellish cunning this wily and unprincipled statesman urged Absalom to add the crime of incest to that of rebellion. In the sight of all Israel he was to take to himself his father’s concubines, according to the custom of oriental nations, thus declaring that he succeeded to his father’s throne. And Absalom carried out the vile suggestion. Thus was fulfilled the word of God to David by the prophet, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor. . . . For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ 2 Samuel 12:11, 12. Not that God prompted these acts of wickedness, but because of David’s sin He did not exercise His power to prevent them.” Was this particular counsel given because Ahithophel was Bath-sheba’s grandfather, and he sought revenge? Was it possible Ahithophel wanted to give David a taste of the same medicine David had given Uriah? Is it possible Ahithophel wanted these concubines to understand his granddaughter’s adulterous situation firsthand? Ahithophel additionally urged immediate action against David’s forces while they were still weak. He suggested choosing twelve thousand men to pursue David, forcing David’s warriors to retreat, leaving the king alone to be slaughtered (2 Samuel 17:1, 2). “This plan was approved by the king’s counselors. Had it been followed, David would surely have been slain, unless the Lord had directly interposed to save him.” God controls multiple outcomes beyond our limited means to visualize even one.