AHITHOPHEL the man who could not forgive
(2 SAMUEL 17 :23)
The cause of God is always greater than the man who
represents it, and no one can ever be justified in leaving
his place of service because he has discovered sin in high
places of responsibility. Ahithophel was one of the
greatest men of his time, but he allowed memories of
injustice to colour his entire horizon.
Ahithophel's Greatness
This eminent man occupied one of the stately homes
of Israel, for he was not only a great man in his own right,
he was the bosom friend and honoured counsellor of the
king. When he gave counsel "he spake as the oracle of
God," and on innumerable occasions the king had cause
to thank God for the presence of his old and trusted friend.
Now, Ahithophel had a son whose name was Eliam (2
Sam. 23:34), a distinguished captain in David's army.
He was very proud of his boy, and perhaps even more
proud of his beautiful grandchild Bath-sheba (2 Sam.
11:3). He watched her and wistfully thought of the
future, and when Uriah the Hittite, another valiant captain,
fell in love with this charming girl, both her father and
grandfather joyously consented to their marriage. And
then came tragedy!
Aithophel's Grief
"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David
arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the
king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing
herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one
said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the
wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers
and took her . . ." (11:2-4). Poor Bath-sheba, she was
just a helpless woman in an eastern land - and could
hardly be expected to resist the attentions of an irre-
sponsible passionate monarch. The weeks and the months
which followed were dark with apprehension and dread.
Fearful suspense tortured her mind, and even David
regretted the madness of former days. Constantly the
threat of discovery hung over his head, and as a last
resort he ordered the execution of the faithful young
husband. Bath-sheba bowed in sorrow and mourned for
her lover, but old grandfather Ahithophel knew no such
restraint. This act of David was despicable to the extreme
-it was murder! Incensed, the great counsellor saddled
his ass and went home to Giloh. Uriah was in the grave;
his lovely Bath-sheba had been seduced. The old man
was furious.
Ahithophel's Guilt
The subsequent story of David's bitter repentance only
hardened Ahithophel's heart. Could tears bring back the
dead Uriah? Could tears remove the stain from the soul
of a seduced girl? Bah! When Absalom's treachery
threatened the safety of King David, Ahithophel heard
the news and smiled. Had not David forfeited his right
to reign? "And Absalom sent for Ahithophel . . . and
the conspiracy was strong. Then said Absalom to Ahitho-
phel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And
Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's
concubines . . . and all Israel shall hear that thou art
abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that
are with thee be strong . . . And the counsel of Ahithophel
which he counselled in those days was as if a man had
enquired at the oracle of God" (2 Sam. 15:12; 16:20-23).
Poor man, bitterness had blinded his eyes to the fact that
the cause of God is always greater than the man who
represents it.
Ahithophel's Grave
The dramatic story of Hushai's opposition to the counsel
of Ahithophel, makes good reading. Driven by increasing
animosity, David's former friend would have pursued the
weary king to slay him. Yet doubt was implanted in
Absalom's mind, and ultimately Ahithophel was rejected.
"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 Sam. 17 :23). Did David ever
visit the grave of his old friend? Did he weep as he
read the epitaph, "Here lies Anithophel-the man who
could not forgive"?
