16:23 In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. 1 Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. 2
1 tn Heb “And the advice of Ahithophel which he advised in those days was as when one inquires of the word of God.”
2 tn Heb “So was all the advice of Ahithophel, also to David, also to Absalom.”
3 tn Though this verb in the MT is 3rd person masculine singular, it should probably be read as 2nd person masculine singular. It is one of fifteen places where the Masoretes placed a dot over each of the letters of the word in question in order to call attention to their suspicion of the word. Their concern in this case apparently had to do with the fact that this verb and the two preceding verbs alternate from third person to second and back again to third. Words marked in this way in Hebrew manuscripts or printed editions are said to have puncta extrordinaria, or “extraordinary points.”
4 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.