Difference between revisions of "Ahithophel"

<p> <translit> a </translit> - <translit> hith´o </translit> - <translit> fel </translit> ( <span> אחיתפל </span> , <i> <translit> 'ăḥı̄thōphel </translit> </i> , "brother of foolishness," perhaps): The real leader of the [[Absalom]] rebellion against David. [[He]] is described as "the king's counselor," in a context connected with events some of which are dated in the fortieth year of [[David]] ( <span> 1 [[Chronicles]] 27:33 </span> , <span> 1 Chronicles 27:34 </span> ; compare <span> 1 Chronicles 26:31 </span> ). [[Concerning]] him and his part in the rebellion we have rather full information ( <span> 2 [[Samuel]] 15:12 </span> ). </p> <p> Some hold that he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, and make much of this in forming their estimates of him. Does the evidence sustain this view? [[In]] the latter half of the list of David's mighty men, not among the older veterans with whom the list begins, appears "Eliam the son of [[Ahithophel]] the Gilonite" ( <span> 2 Samuel 23:34 </span> ), the corresponding name in the other copy of the list being "Ahijah the Pelonite" ( <span> 1 Chronicles 11:36 </span> ). It is assumed that this is the same [[Eliam]] who was father to Bath-sheba ( <span> 2 Samuel 11:3 </span> ). [[Apparently]] the [[Chronicler]] testifies ( <span> 1 Chronicles 3:5 </span> ) that the mother of [[Solomon]] was "Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel." [[Bathshua]] may easily be a variant of Bathsheba, and the names Eliam and [[Ammiel]] are made up of the same parts, only in reversed order. It is not strange that men have inferred that the son of Ahithophel was the father of Bathsheba. But the inference is really not a probable one. The record does not make the impression that Ahithophel was an older man than David. The recorded events of David's life after his misconduct with [[Bathsheba]] cannot have occupied less than about twenty years; that is, he cannot have been at the time older than about fifty years. That Ahithophel had then a married grand-daughter is less probable than that there were in [[Israel]] two Eliams. Further, Ahithophel was not the sort of man to conspire against the interests of his grand-daughter and her son, however he may, earlier, have resented the conduct of David toward her. Ahithophel's motive in the rebellion was doubtless ambition for personal power, though he very likely shared with many of his countrymen in the conviction that it was unjust to push aside an older son by elevating a younger son to the throne. </p> <p> Ahithophel has a reputation for marvelous practical sagacity ( <span> 2 Samuel 16:23 </span> ). He did not show this in joining the conspiracy but it is in evidence in his management of the affair. According to the record the hearts of the people, in spite of the much fault they had to find, were all the time with David. Absalom's only chance of success was by the method of surprise and stampede. There must be a crisis in which everybody would join Absalom because everybody thought that everybody else had done so. Such a state of public sentiment could last only a very few days; but if, in those few days, David could be put out of the way, Absalom might hold the throne in virtue of his personal popularity and in default of a rival. The first part of the program was carried out with wonderful success; when it came to the second part, Ahithophel's practical wisdom was blocked by Hushai's adroit appeal to Absalom's personal vanity. Ahithophel saw with absolute clearness that Absalom had sacrificed his one opportunity, and he committed suicide to avoid participation in the shameful defeat which he saw could not be averted. </p>

<p> (Hebrew Achitho'phel, <span> אֲחַיתֹפֶל </span> , <span> brother of insipidity, </span> i e. <span> foolish; </span> Sept. <span> Ἀχιτόφελ </span> , [[Josephus]] <span> Ἀχιτόφελος </span> ) <span> , </span> the singular name of a man renowned for political sagacity among the Jews, who regarded his counsels as oracles ( <span> 2 [[Samuel]] 16:23 </span> ). [[He]] was of the council of [[David]] ( <span> 1 [[Chronicles]] 27:33-34 </span> ), and his son [[Eliam]] (q.v.) was one of David's body-guard ( <span> 2 Samuel 23:34 </span> ). He was at Giloh, his native place, at the time of the revolt of Absalom, by whom he was summoned to Jerusalem; and it shows the strength. of Absalom's cause in [[Israel]] that a man so capable of foreseeing results, and estimating the probabilities of success, took his side in so daring an attempt ( <span> 2 Samuel 15:12 </span> ). He probably hoped to wield a greater sway under the vain prince than he had done under David, against whom it is also possible that he entertained a secret malice on account of his granddaughter [[Bathsheba]] ( <span> 2 Samuel 11:3 </span> , comp. with <span> 2 Samuel 23:34 </span> ). </p> <p> The news of his defection appears to have occasioned David more alarm than any other single incident in the rebellion. He earnestly prayed [[God]] to turn the sage counsel of [[Ahithophel]] "to foolishness" (probably alluding to his name); and being immediately after joined by his old friend Hushai, he induced him to go over to [[Absalom]] with the express view that he might be instrumental in defeating the counsels of this dangerous person ( <span> 2 Samuel 15:31-37 </span> ). Psalms 55 is supposed to contain ( <span> Psalms 55:12-14 </span> ) a further expression of David's feelings at this treachery of one whom he had so completely trusted, and whom he calls "My companion, my guide, and my familiar friend" <span> — </span> a passage which our [[Savior]] applies to his own case in such a manner as to indicate that Ahithophel was in some sense a type of [[Judas]] ( <span> [[John]] 13:18 </span> ); at least their conduct and their end were similar (see Steuber, Achitophel sibi loqueo gulam fractus, Rint. 1741; Lindsay, Lect. 2, 199; Crit. Sac. Thes. Nov. 1, 676; Jones, Works, 7, 102). The detestable advice which Ahithophel gave Absalom to appropriate his father's harem committed him absolutely to the cause of the young prince, since after that he could hope for no reconcilement with David ( <span> 2 Samuel 16:20-23 </span> ). [[His]] proposal as to the conduct of the war undoubtedly indicated the best course that could have been taken under the circumstances; and so it seemed to the council until [[Hushai]] interposed with his plausible advice, the object of which was to gain time to enable David to collect his resources. (See <a> ABSALOM </a> ). </p> <p> When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was rejected for that of Hushai, the far-seeing man gave up the cause of Absalom for lost (comp. Josephus, <span> Ant, </span> 7, 9, 8); and he forthwith saddled his ass, returned to his home at Giloh, deliberately settled his affairs, and then hanged himself. and was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers (2 Samuel 17), B.C. cir. 1023. (Niemeyer's <span> Charak. </span> 4, 327 sq.; Ewald, <span> Isr. Gesch., </span> 2, 642.) (See <a> DAVID </a> ). </p>