2 Samuel 16:23

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Sam 15:12 : 12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 17:14 : 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said,“The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel.” Now the LORD had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster on Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 17:23 : 23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father.
  • Job 5:12 : 12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!
  • Job 28:28 : 28 And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
  • Ps 19:7 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the LORD are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.
  • Ps 28:2 : 2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!
  • Eccl 10:1 : 1 One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
  • Jer 4:22 : 22 The LORD answered,“This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good.”
  • Jer 8:9 : 9 Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the LORD’s message, what wisdom do they really have?
  • Matt 11:25 : 25 Jesus’ Invitation At that time Jesus said,“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to little children.
  • Luke 16:8 : 8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.
  • Rom 1:22 : 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
  • 1 Cor 3:19-20 : 19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20 And again,“The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
  • Jas 3:13-18 : 13 True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
  • 1 Pet 4:11 : 11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
  • Num 27:21 : 21 And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.”
  • 1 Sam 30:8 : 8 David inquired of the LORD, saying,“Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?” He said to him,“Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Sam 16:19-22
    4 verses
    85%

    19Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

    20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel,“Give us your advice. What should we do?”

    21Ahithophel replied to Absalom,“Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.”

    22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

  • 2 Sam 17:13-16
    4 verses
    82%

    13If he regroups in a city, all Israel will take up ropes to that city and drag it down to the valley, so that not a single pebble will be left there!”

    14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said,“The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel.” Now the LORD had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster on Absalom.

    15Then Hushai reported to Zadok and Abiathar the priests,“Here is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do, and here is what I have advised.

    16Now send word quickly to David and warn him,“Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.”

  • 2 Sam 15:30-32
    3 verses
    81%

    30As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up.

    31Now David had been told,“Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed,“Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O LORD.

    32When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.

  • 2 Sam 15:11-13
    3 verses
    79%

    11Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.

    12While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.

    13David Flees from Jerusalem Then a messenger came to David and reported,“The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”

  • 2 Sam 17:4-9
    6 verses
    77%

    4This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel.

    5But Absalom said,“Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let’s hear what he has to say.”

    6So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him,“Here is what Ahithophel has advised. Should we follow his advice? If not, what would you recommend?”

    7Hushai replied to Absalom,“Ahithophel’s advice is not sound this time.”

    8Hushai went on to say,“You know your father and his men– they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army.

    9At this very moment he is hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place. If it should turn out that he attacks our troops first, whoever hears about it will say,‘Absalom’s army has been slaughtered!’

  • 2 Sam 15:34-35
    2 verses
    76%

    34But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom,‘I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father’s servant, and now I will be your servant.’

    35Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king’s palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

  • 1 Chr 27:32-34
    3 verses
    76%

    32Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe; Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for the king’s sons.

    33Ahithophel was the king’s adviser;Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant.

    34Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.Joab was the commanding general of the king’s army.

  • 2 Sam 17:1-2
    2 verses
    76%

    1The Death of Ahithophel Ahithophel said to Absalom,“Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.

    2When I catch up with him he will be exhausted and worn out. I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king

  • 2 Sam 16:15-17
    3 verses
    76%

    15The Advice of Ahithophel Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him.

    16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him,“Long live the king! Long live the king!”

    17Absalom said to Hushai,“Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

  • 2 Sam 17:20-21
    2 verses
    76%

    20When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked,“Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied to them,“They crossed over the stream.” Absalom’s men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

    21After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David,“Get up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.”

  • 2 Sam 17:23-24
    2 verses
    76%

    23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father.

    24Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.

  • 2 Sam 15:6
    69%

    6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.

  • 2 Sam 15:2-4
    3 verses
    69%

    2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him,“What city are you from?” The person would answer,“I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.”

    3Absalom would then say to him,“Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”

    4Absalom would then say,“If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

  • 2 Sam 14:20
    69%

    20Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.”

  • 2 Sam 15:37
    68%

    37So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

  • 2 Sam 18:32-33
    2 verses
    68%

    32The king asked the Cushite,“How is the young man Absalom?” The Cushite replied,“May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against you be like that young man!”

    33(19:1) The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said,“My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”

  • 1 Sam 30:7
    68%

    7Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech,“Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

  • 2 Sam 20:18
    68%

    18She said,“In the past they would always say,‘Let them inquire in Abel,’ and that is how they settled things.

  • 2 Sam 23:34
    67%

    34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

  • 2 Sam 14:1
    67%

    1David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom.

  • 2 Sam 13:23-24
    2 verses
    67%

    23Absalom Has Amnon Put to Death Two years later Absalom’s sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

    24Then Absalom went to the king and said,“My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and his servants go with me.”

  • 2 Sam 18:5
    67%

    5The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai:“For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.

  • 1 Sam 23:9
    66%

    9When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring the ephod!”