AHITOPHEL, was a native of Gillo. The Jews1 make him to be Grandfather to Bathsheba, the Wife of Uriah, and afterwards 1 Chr. iii. 5. collatum cum 2 Sam. xi. 4.of David, by his Son Ammiel, the Father of Bathsheba. If this be so, Ahitophel must have been very old at the time of Absalom’s Rebellion, since his Grand-daughter Bathsheba had already for some time been married to Uriah before she became Wife to David. There are some2 who conjecture that the reason of Ahitophel’s embracing Absalom’s Interest with so much warmth, was a desire of revenging the dishonour which David had brought upon his Grand-daughter. However this may be, as soon as Absalom was acknowledged to be King by the greatest part of the Israelites, he sent for Ahitophel from Gillo, to assist him with his advice in the present 2 Sam. xv. 12. Ch. xvi. 23.juncture of his affairs; for at that time Ahitophel’s Councils were received as the Oracles of God himself. Nothing gave David more uneasiness than the hearing that this great Statesman was of Absalom’s party; and when Hushai his friend came to wait on him, and attend him in his flight, he intreated him to return rather to Jerusalem, make a shew of offering his services to Absalom, and endeavour to disappoint the good advice which should be given by Ahitophel.
When Absalom was come to Jerusalem, he desired Ahitophel to deliberate with his other Counsellors upon the measures which Ch. xv. 31, 32, 33.were proper for him to take. Ahitophel advis’d him in the first place to abuse his Father’s Concubines, that so when all Israel should understand that he had dishonour’d his Father in this manner, they might espouse his Interests more resolutely: A tent therefore was prepared for this purpose upon the terrass of the King’s Palace, and Absalom, in the sight of all Israel, enter’d the place where David’s Concubines were. At another time Ahitophel Ch. xvii. 1, 2.said to Absalom, If you please I will take twelve thousand chosen Men, and pursue David this very night, and so falling upon him while he is weary, and not upon his guard, I shall easily defeat him, disperse those who are about him, and when he is thus abandoned by his People, kill him; after which I will bring the army back to you, and all things will be peaceably settled. This advice was very agreeable to Absalom, and all the Elders of Israel. However, says Absalom, call Hushai, that we may know his opinion.
Hushai being come, and hearing what advice Ahitophel had given, said, The Counsel that Ahitophel hath given is not good at this time; what for the present, in my opinion, may do better, is this; Let all Israel be gather’d unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand is by the Sea for multitude, and put thyself in the midst of them, and wherever David is we shall fall upon him, and overwhelm him with our numbers, as the dew falleth upon the ground. This advice was agreeable to Absalom, and all the Elders of Israel, and the Lord permitted that of Ahitophel, which was the best, to be rejected, that so Absalom’s ruin might be hasten’d. Now Ahitophel seeing his counsel neglected, saddled his ass, went to his house at Gillo, hanged himself, and was buried in the sepulchre of his Fathers. He foresaw without doubt all that would happen to Absalom, and was determin’d to prevent the death which he had deserved, and which David had not failed to have inflicted on him as soon as he had been resettled on his Throne. All this fell out in the year of the World 2981, before J.C. 1019, before the vulgar Æra 1023.
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