2 Samuel 15:31

KJV

¶ And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

KJV (with Strong's)

And one told {H5046} David {H1732}, saying {H559}, Ahithophel {H302} is among the conspirators {H7194} with Absalom {H53}. And David {H1732} said {H559}, O LORD {H3068}, I pray thee, turn the counsel {H6098} of Ahithophel {H302} into foolishness {H5528}.

Complete Jewish Bible

One of them told David, "Achitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom." David said, "ADONAI, please! Turn Achitofel's advice into foolishness!"

Berean Standard Bible

Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

American Standard Version

And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Samuel 15:31 captures a pivotal and deeply personal moment in King David's life during Absalom's treacherous rebellion. Upon receiving the devastating news that Ahithophel, his most trusted and strategically brilliant counselor, had joined Absalom's conspiracy, David's immediate and profound response was not to strategize militarily but to turn to God in fervent prayer. He implores the Lord to confound Ahithophel's counsel, recognizing that human wisdom, no matter how shrewd, is ultimately subject to divine sovereignty. This verse powerfully illustrates David's unwavering faith and reliance on God in the face of overwhelming betrayal and existential threat.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Absalom's rebellion, immediately following David's sorrowful departure from Jerusalem. David, barefoot and weeping, ascends the Mount of Olives, accompanied by loyal followers and the Ark of the Covenant, which he then instructs to be returned to the city, signifying his trust in God's presence there ([2 Samuel 15:30-32](/2_samuel/15-30 "2 Samuel 15:30-32 - David's Flight from Jerusalem")). The news of Ahithophel's defection arrives as David is already in a state of profound distress, amplifying the sense of crisis. It sets the stage for God's subsequent intervention through Hushai the Archite, whom David strategically sends back to Jerusalem to counter Ahithophel's advice ([2 Samuel 15:32-37](/2_samuel/15-32 "2 Samuel 15:32-37 - Hushai Sent Back to Jerusalem")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ahithophel was renowned throughout Israel for his exceptional wisdom and strategic acumen; his counsel was considered "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" ([2 Samuel 16:23](/2_samuel/16-23 "2 Samuel 16:23 - Ahithophel's Esteemed Counsel")). For such a figure to defect to Absalom's side was not merely a loss of a counselor but a profound strategic blow, giving Absalom's nascent rebellion immense credibility and tactical advantage. In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, trusted advisors held immense power and influence, often shaping the very policies and military strategies of the kingdom. Ahithophel's betrayal was thus a deeply personal wound for David, echoing the pain of betrayal often lamented in the Psalms, as seen in [Psalm 55:12-14](/psalms/55-12 "Psalm 55:12-14 - David's Lament of Betrayal").
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **betrayal and the fragility of human loyalty**, as a close confidant turns against his king, underscoring the deep pain and vulnerability associated with such an act. Secondly, David's immediate recourse to prayer underscores the **power and necessity of divine reliance**, demonstrating that in moments of overwhelming human crisis, true strength is found in turning to God. This exemplifies a profound faith in God's ability to intervene in human affairs. Finally, the prayer "turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" introduces the theme of **divine sovereignty over human wisdom**. It asserts that no human plan, no matter how cunning or well-conceived, can ultimately thwart God's will, a concept echoed throughout the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as in [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom Against the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ahithophel (Hebrew, _’ăḥîṭōp̄el_):** Meaning "my brother is folly" or "brother of foolishness," an ironic name given his reputation for profound wisdom. He was David's trusted counselor, whose advice was considered infallible, "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" ([2 Samuel 16:23](/2_samuel/16-23 "2 Samuel 16:23 - Ahithophel's Esteemed Counsel")). His defection was therefore a catastrophic blow to David, representing not just a loss of strategic insight but a deep personal betrayal from someone intimately familiar with David's affairs and vulnerabilities.
* **counsel (Hebrew, _‘ēṣāh_):** This term refers to advice, strategy, or a well-thought-out plan. In Ahithophel's case, it denotes a level of shrewdness and strategic brilliance that made his guidance almost certainly effective. David's prayer acknowledges the formidable nature of Ahithophel's strategic mind, recognizing that a direct confrontation with such wisdom would be disastrous without divine intervention.
* **foolishness (Hebrew, _sikhlut_):** This word signifies not merely that the counsel should be rendered ineffective or unsuccessful, but that it should be made utterly senseless, absurd, or self-defeating. David is not just asking for Ahithophel's plans to fail, but for them to actively become a source of confusion and error for Absalom and his conspirators, leading to their downfall. This implies a divine reversal where what was considered supremely wise becomes manifestly absurd.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom."**: This clause delivers the shocking news to David. The anonymous "one" emphasizes the widespread and rapid nature of Absalom's rebellion, reaching David even in his flight. The revelation of Ahithophel's involvement signifies a turning point, elevating the rebellion from a mere family dispute to a grave existential threat, given Ahithophel's strategic genius and intimate knowledge of David's operations.
* **"And David said, O LORD, I pray thee,"**: David's immediate and instinctive response to this devastating news is not despair or military planning, but fervent prayer. This demonstrates his profound spiritual discipline and deep reliance on God in moments of extreme crisis. The direct address "O LORD" (Yahweh) underscores the personal and covenantal nature of his plea, appealing to God as his sovereign protector and deliverer.
* **"turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."**: This is the core of David's petition. He recognizes the immense danger posed by Ahithophel's strategic mind and understands that human counter-strategy alone might not suffice. Instead, he appeals to God's omnipotence to supernaturally confound and nullify Ahithophel's plans, transforming what is considered wise into something utterly ineffective and self-destructive. This prayer is a powerful testament to David's belief in God's sovereignty over all human wisdom and affairs.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is central, as the man whose counsel was considered divine wisdom is prayed against for his advice to be turned into foolishness. This sets up the dramatic **plot device** of God's direct intervention, which is fulfilled in [2 Samuel 17:14](/2_samuel/17-14 "2 Samuel 17:14 - Ahithophel's Counsel Foiled"), where the Lord indeed frustrates Ahithophel's "good counsel" through Hushai's counter-advice. This foreshadowing highlights the power of prayer and divine sovereignty. The narrative also uses **contrast** between human wisdom (Ahithophel's counsel) and divine power (God's ability to render it foolish), emphasizing that God's plan ultimately transcends and overrules all human machinations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
David's prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31 is a profound theological statement about God's sovereignty over human affairs, particularly over the wisdom and plans of humanity. It teaches that even the most brilliant and cunning human strategies are subject to God's ultimate will and can be confounded by divine intervention. This aligns with a consistent biblical theme that God delights in frustrating the proud and the wise of this world to demonstrate His own power and wisdom. David's immediate turning to prayer in a moment of existential crisis also underscores the vital role of prayer as the believer's primary recourse, not merely a last resort, demonstrating absolute dependence on God's active involvement in their circumstances.

* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10-11 - God Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")
* [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom or Plan Against the Lord")
* [1 Corinthians 1:18-20](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18-20 - The Foolishness of God is Wiser than Human Wisdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's response to Ahithophel's betrayal offers a timeless model for believers facing overwhelming challenges, cunning adversaries, or deep personal betrayals. Instead of succumbing to panic, despair, or immediate human strategizing, David's first and most profound action was to cast his burden upon the Lord in prayer. This teaches us the supreme importance of prioritizing divine intervention over human ingenuity when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people and possesses the power to turn even the most formidable human wisdom into foolishness. Our faith is not in our ability to outwit our enemies, but in God's omnipotence to confound their plans and work His purposes, often through unexpected means, as He did through Hushai. This encourages us to cultivate a deep, immediate, and unwavering reliance on God in every crisis, trusting that His wisdom and power far exceed any human machination.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when faced with unexpected betrayal or seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your life?**
* **What does David's immediate recourse to prayer teach you about the priority of seeking God's intervention in your own crises?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely more on human wisdom or your own strategic planning than on God's sovereign power to intervene?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper, more immediate habit of prayer when confronted with situations that seem beyond your control?**

### FAQ
**Who was Ahithophel and why was his betrayal so significant?**

Answer: Ahithophel was King David's personal and highly esteemed counselor, renowned throughout Israel for his exceptional wisdom. His advice was considered so reliable that it was "as if one had inquired at the oracle of God" ([2 Samuel 16:23](/2_samuel/16-23 "2 Samuel 16:23 - Ahithophel's Counsel Esteemed")). His betrayal was significant not only because it was a deep personal wound to David from a trusted confidant, but also because it lent immense strategic credibility and tactical advantage to Absalom's rebellion. Ahithophel knew David's strategies, weaknesses, and resources intimately, making him an incredibly dangerous adversary.

**How did God answer David's prayer?**

Answer: God answered David's prayer by frustrating Ahithophel's counsel through the counter-advice of Hushai the Archite. David had sent Hushai back to Jerusalem specifically to infiltrate Absalom's court and counter Ahithophel's advice ([2 Samuel 15:32-37](/2_samuel/15-32 "2 Samuel 15:32-37 - David Sends Hushai Back")). Ahithophel advised Absalom to immediately pursue David with a small, swift force to strike him down while he was vulnerable ([2 Samuel 17:1-4](/2_samuel/17-1 "2 Samuel 17:1-4 - Ahithophel's Swift Counsel")). However, Hushai, divinely inspired, presented a more elaborate and seemingly grander plan that involved gathering a massive army, which appealed to Absalom's vanity and desire for widespread support ([2 Samuel 17:7-13](/2_samuel/17-7 "2 Samuel 17:7-13 - Hushai's Counter-Counsel")). The text explicitly states, "For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom" ([2 Samuel 17:14](/2_samuel/17-14 "2 Samuel 17:14 - God Frustrates Ahithophel's Counsel")). This delay allowed David time to regroup and prepare, ultimately leading to Absalom's defeat.

**Does this verse imply that God directly intervenes in all human plans?**

Answer: This verse strongly affirms God's sovereign ability and willingness to intervene in human affairs, particularly when His purposes are at stake or when His people call upon Him in faith. It does not necessarily imply that God *directly* intervenes to frustrate *all* human plans, but it certainly demonstrates that no human wisdom or scheme can ultimately thwart His divine will. God's intervention here is specific to David's prayer and His overarching plan for David's kingship and the Davidic covenant. It serves as a powerful example of God's active involvement in history, often working through seemingly natural circumstances (like Hushai's counter-advice) to achieve His supernatural ends, as also seen in [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - Many Plans in a Man's Heart, but the Lord's Purpose Prevails").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Ahithophel's betrayal and David's prayer finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment, echoing themes that culminate in Jesus Christ. David, as a type of Christ, experiences the bitter sting of betrayal from a trusted confidant, much like Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, a close disciple who ate bread with Him ([Psalm 41:9](/psalms/41-9 "Psalm 41:9 - Even My Close Friend Has Lifted His Heel Against Me") foreshadows this, and is quoted by Jesus in [John 13:18](/john/13-18 "John 13:18 - Jesus Quotes Psalm 41:9")). Furthermore, Ahithophel's "wise" counsel, intended to destroy David, was ultimately turned into foolishness by God, leading to Ahithophel's own demise. This powerfully prefigures how the "wisdom" of the world, which orchestrated the crucifixion of Christ—the ultimate act of apparent human triumph over God's anointed—was in fact God's ultimate plan for salvation, confounding the wise and demonstrating divine power ([1 Corinthians 1:20-25](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20-25 - The Foolishness of God is Wiser Than Men")). The cross, seemingly a sign of weakness and defeat, became the very means of God's triumph over sin and death, turning the counsel of the Sanhedrin and Pilate into foolishness. Jesus Himself is the true and ultimate Counselor, whose wisdom is never confounded and whose plans for redemption are eternally sure ([Isaiah 9:6](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Wonderful Counselor")). Unlike Ahithophel, Christ's counsel always leads to life and truth, and His ultimate triumph over all earthly and spiritual adversaries is guaranteed ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 17:23

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

2 Samuel 17:14

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Psalms 41:9

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.

James 3:15

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.

Isaiah 19:11

Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Isaiah 19:25

Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed [be] Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

2 Samuel 16:23

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.