[A couple weeks ago, Dr. William Varner, a professor at The
Master's College, posted on Facebook some brief, but very insightful
thoughts from the life of David, particularly about a lesser-known
figure named Ahithophel. I asked him if he had more to say about this
man and he was so kind to send me this larger article.]
Following David’s awful sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the
ensuing arranged murder of her husband, Uriah, he was confronted by
Nathan the prophet. Among the consequences of his sins were that from
his own household enemies would arise against him (2 Sam 12:10-11).
Three of his sons – Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah – each caused serious
problems for him and his successor, Solomon (2 Sam 13; 14-17; 2 Kings
1-2). There was another person, whose name also began with an “A,” who
rose up against him as a betrayer. This man, Ahithophel, had been a
close advisor to David and could even have been called “the smartest man
in the world.” “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was
as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of
Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom” (2Sam 16:23). He
evidently came out of his own retirement and joined the revolt of
Absalom as his trusted advisor (2 Sam 16:23). Continue at Paul Tautges
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