2 Samuel 15:12

15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, ¹  to come from his city, Giloh. ²  The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.

2 Samuel 16:23

16:23 In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. ³  Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. ⁴ 

2 Samuel 17:11

17:11 My advice therefore is this: Let all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba – in number like the sand by the sea! – be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle.

2 Samuel 17:21

17:21 After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan ⁵  climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, “Get up and cross the stream ⁶  quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.” ⁷ 

¹ tn Traditionally, “counselor,” but this term is more often associated with psychological counseling today, so “adviser” was used in the translation instead.

² tn Heb “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the adviser of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was sacrificing.” It is not entirely clear who (Absalom or Ahithophel) was offering the sacrifices.

³ tn Heb “And the advice of Ahithophel which he advised in those days was as when one inquires of the word of God.”

⁴ tn Heb “So was all the advice of Ahithophel, also to David, also to Absalom.”

⁵ tn Heb “they”; the referents (Ahimaaz and Jonathan) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn Heb “the water.”

⁷ tn Heb “for thus Ahithophel has devised against you.” The expression “thus” is narrative shorthand, referring to the plan outlined by Ahithophel (see vv. 1-3). The men would surely have outlined the plan in as much detail as they had been given by the messenger.