2 Sam 15.12 says, “And Absalom sent for Ahithophel (meaning brother of folly or ruin), the Gilonite (from the city of Giloh), David’s counselor, from his city in Giloh (exile; uncovering) while he was offering sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong (which Ahithophel must have heard about previously), for the people increased continually with Absalom.” This is a pivotal event in the conspiracy against David. David’s counselor and friend Ahithophel betrays David and joins the rebellion against David, and with his presence with Absalom, strengthens the conspiracy against David. But why did Ahithophel betray David? The study of Ahithophel is a study about the roots of bitterness, and it covers from 2 Sam 11.1 to 17.23. Here is why he did it.
Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba and the father of Eliam. As we all know, David has an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his mighty men, Uriah the Hittite. Eliam and Uriah were part of the Givorim, or mighty men, of David in 2 Sam 23. 34, 39. Bathsheba becomes pregnant, and to cover his sin, David sends Uriah into the heat of battle, and Uriah is killed, and David takes Bathsheba for his wife. But the baby that Bathsheba bore dies after he is born.
So Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, became very bitter over the death of Uriah and the whole adulterous Bathsheba affair, and joined in with those in rebellion against David. Eliam, Bathsheba’s father, remained faithful to David even after this incident, and Ahithophel didn’t. Eliam stood by David even after he murdered his son-in-law and disgraced his daughter because he knew God was with David and anointed him as king. But this did not mean that he approved of David’s behavior, but turned him over to God to deal with because God put him into the kingship, and it will be God who deals with him. But Eliam was not going to raise a hand against God’s anointed king. However, he had to stand against his own father to support David. We learn from this story that an unforgiving spirit leads to destruction. Ahithophel was a traitor, and he betrayed David, and he will hang himself after his counsel was rejected by Absalom, knowing that Absalom would lose an upcoming battle with David in the Forest of Ephraim. Judas will do the same thing in Matt 27.5.
There are many times when we feel justified and hold on to our anger, refusing to let go of whatever it is. We can choose to let go or hold on to bitterness. We can’t afford bitterness even if we are in the right and they are truly guilty. We can let it go and not bring it up again, but we may struggle with it. But how can we let go? What was the message in Jeremiah? The people needed to surrender to the king of Babylon and come out from behind their walls to live. Resistance meant death. If you read 2 Sam 11.1 through 17.23, we will see in this story that Ahithophel did not let go, and it ultimately cost him his life. And for those who followed Ahithophel and Absalom, they were cut to pieces in the forest of Ephraim.
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