Ahithophel

Bible character profile · Ancient Israel

Ahithophel (uh-HITH-uh-fel) was a trusted adviser to King David. When David’s son tried to take the throne, Ahithophel joined the son and offered advice against the king he had served.

Who was he?

His job was to help the king make decisions. Both David and his son Absalom (AB-suh-luhm) placed great trust in his advice (2 Samuel 16:23). Ahithophel’s hometown was in the hill country of Judah. The rebellion brought him to Jerusalem.

What happened?

1. He changed sides. Absalom sent for him as the rebellion grew (2 Samuel 15:12).
2. He proposed a quick attack. He offered to pursue the tired David with twelve thousand men and kill the king (2 Samuel 17:1–4).
3. His plan was rejected. Another adviser, still loyal to David, urged a larger, slower campaign. Absalom followed that advice (2 Samuel 17:5–14).
4. He returned home. After putting his affairs in order, Ahithophel died by suicide. The account says he was buried in his father’s tomb (2 Samuel 17:23).

What do we know about the dates?

Ahithophel belongs to the period of King David, commonly placed around 1000 BC. BC means “before Christ”; BCE, “before the Common Era,” uses the same year numbers. The Bible gives no birth year or calendar date for Ahithophel’s death. A precise lifespan would go beyond the evidence.

What remains uncertain?

Some readers suggest a family connection between Ahithophel and a woman David wronged, then treat revenge as his reason for joining the rebellion. That connection is debated. The story does not directly tell us his motive. It is better to distinguish what he did from guesses about what he felt.

Explore the setting

See Jerusalem on the map, between the Mediterranean coast and the Dead Sea.

Sources

Scripture: 2 Samuel 15–17; 1 Chronicles 27:33. Background and debated family connection: BiblicalTraining: Ahithophel. Approximate setting in David’s era: Getty: David, King of Israel.