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.
Study Note
Study Note
The notice that Ahithophel, when his counsel was not followed, 'saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house... and put his household in order, and hanged himself' provides one of the Old Testament's two explicit suicide accounts (cf. Saul, 1 Sam. 31:4). The parallel between Ahithophel and Judas has fascinated interpreters: both betrayed the one they served (David/Jesus), both hanged themselves after their counsel or action was completed, and both are associated with a betrayer's death that Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18 describe with distinct but related details. Ahithophel is called David's 'familiar friend' in Psalm 55:13-14 ('mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance'), a verse John 13:18 applies to Judas, cementing the typological link. The parallel has generated extensive christological and typological interpretation in patristic and medieval exegesis.
Other Translations
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
And Ahithophel hath seen that his counsel was not done, and he saddleth the ass, and riseth and goeth unto his house, unto his city, and giveth charge unto his household, and strangleth himself, and dieth, and he is buried in the burying-place of his father.
Now when Ahithophel saw that his suggestion was not acted on, he got his ass ready, and went back to his house, to the town where he came from, and having put his house in order, he put himself to death by hanging; so he came to his end and was put in the resting-place of his father.
Cross References
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust …
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of …
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and …
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, …
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And …
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live …