2 Samuel 15:31

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.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 15:12 Historical context

In 2 Samuel 15:12, Ahithophel joins Absalom — this is the betrayal David prays about in verse 31.

2 Samuel 16:23 Historical context

2 Samuel 16:23 explains why Ahithophel's counsel was dangerous — it was esteemed like God's oracle, making David's prayer urgent.

2 Samuel 17:14 Historical context

2 Samuel 17:14 shows God directly answering David's prayer by making Hushai's counsel preferred over Ahithophel's.

2 Samuel 17:23 Historical context

2 Samuel 17:23 records Ahithophel's suicide after his counsel was rejected — the tragic outcome of David's prayer.

2 Samuel 23:34 Historical context

In 2 Samuel 23:34, Ahithophel is named as father of Eliam, one of David's mighty men — providing background on the counselor.

John 13:18 Citation

John 13:18 applies Psalm 41:9 to Judas — the same friend-betrayal pattern as Ahithophel experienced.

Psalm 55:14 Allusion

Psalm 55:14 mourns a close friend who shared counsel and worship — this matches Ahithophel's betrayal of David.

Psalm 55:12 Allusion

In Psalm 55:12, David says it is not an enemy but a companion who betrayed him — exactly Ahithophel's role in 2 Samuel 15:31.

Psalm 41:9 Allusion

In Psalm 41:9, David laments betrayal by a close friend who ate his bread — Ahithophel, the trusted counselor who defected to Absalom.

Isaiah 19:11–25 Related theme

In Isaiah 19:11-25, God makes the wise counselors of Egypt foolish — a direct parallel to David's prayer for Ahithophel's counsel.

Psalm 3:1 Allusion

In Psalm 3:1, David laments many foes rising — the same rebellion by Absalom and Ahithophel he prays about in 2 Samuel 15:31.

Matthew 26:14 shows Judas going to betray Jesus — Ahithophel's betrayal prefigures Judas as a trusted insider.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Related theme

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, Paul declares God made foolish the wisdom of this world — directly echoing David's prayer that God turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness.

Job 12:16–20 Related theme

In Job 12:16-20, God frustrates the counsel of wise men and makes judges fools — mirroring David's prayer that Ahithophel's wise counsel be turned to foolishness.

In 1 Corinthians 3:18-20, Paul says the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God and He catches the wise in their craftiness — paralleling David's prayer.

Isaiah 44:25 says God turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, directly fulfilling David's prayer to turn Ahithophel's counsel into folly.

1 Corinthians 3:19 declares the world's wisdom is foolishness with God—echoing David's prayer to turn Ahithophel's counsel into folly.

Isaiah 8:10 Parallel

Isaiah 8:10 promises that counsel taken against God's people will come to nothing, echoing David's prayer for Ahithophel's counsel to fail.

Psalm 140:8 Parallel

Psalm 140:8 prays that God not grant the wicked's evil plans, directly paralleling David's plea to frustrate Ahithophel's counsel.

Psalm 109:5 Parallel

Psalm 109:5 describes betrayal repaid with evil for good, exactly what Ahithophel did to David.

Psalm 109:4 Parallel

Psalm 109:4 shows David responding to betrayal with prayer, mirroring his prayer against Ahithophel's counsel here.

Psalm 55:9 Parallel

Psalm 55:9 asks God to confuse the speech of the wicked — closely parallels David's request to turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness.

Psalm 33:10 Parallel

Psalm 33:10 declares that the Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing — a direct statement of what David prays for.

Psalm 5:10 Parallel

Psalm 5:10 is an imprecatory prayer asking God to let enemies' intrigues be their downfall — mirrors David's prayer against Ahithophel's counsel.

Job 12:17 Parallel

Job 12:17 says God leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges — same theme of God overturning wise counsel.

Job 5:13 Related theme

Job 5:13 states that God catches the wise in their own craftiness — a direct principle behind David's prayer to turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness.

Nehemiah 4:15 Related theme

Nehemiah 4:15 directly records God frustrating the enemies' plot — a clear answer to the kind of prayer David makes here.

Isaiah 19:3 Related theme

In Isaiah 19:3, God declares He will destroy the counsel of Egypt — echoing the theme of God confounding human wisdom as David prays.

Jeremiah 8:9 Related theme

In Jeremiah 8:9, wise men are ashamed and taken because they reject God's word — paralleling the fate of Ahithophel whose counsel was turned to folly.

Job 18:7 Parallel

Job 18:7 describes the wicked's own schemes throwing them down — a general parallel to Ahithophel's counsel being self-destructive.

Job 17:4 Parallel

Job 17:4 says God closed their minds to understanding — related to turning counsel foolish, but Job is speaking about his friends' lack of insight.