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.

Cross-reference

2 Samuel 15:12 Historical context

2 Samuel 15:12 records Ahithophel joining Absalom's conspiracy, which leads to his suicide.

2 Samuel 15:31 Historical context

In 2 Samuel 15:31, David prays for Ahithophel's counsel to be turned to foolishness; here it is rejected, leading to his suicide.

In 2 Samuel 16:23, Ahithophel's counsel was esteemed like God's oracle, contrasting sharply with his suicide after it was rejected.

In Matthew 27:5, Judas hangs himself after betraying Jesus, directly echoing Ahithophel's betrayal and suicide.

Proverbs 16:18 Related theme

Proverbs 16:18 illustrates Ahithophel's fall: his pride from rejected counsel leads to destruction by suicide.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, worldly grief produces death—Ahithophel's grief over rejected counsel led him to hang himself.

Ecclesiastes 10:8 says one who digs a pit falls into it — Ahithophel’s counsel was a pit that he himself fell into.

Proverbs 11:5 states the wicked fall by their own wickedness — Ahithophel’s own counsel, born of wickedness, caused his fall.

Psalm 146:9 Allusion

Psalm 146:9 says the LORD brings the wicked’s way to ruin — Ahithophel’s suicide is a vivid example of this principle.

Psalm 37:15 Allusion

Psalm 37:15 says the wicked’s sword pierces their own heart — Ahithophel’s rejected counsel became the instrument of his own destruction.

Psalm 35:8 Allusion

Psalm 35:8 describes an enemy ensnared by his own net — Ahithophel’s counsel was a trap that fell back on him, leading to his death.

Psalm 33:10 Allusion

Psalm 33:10 shows God frustrates human counsel — exactly what happened to Ahithophel’s advice, which was rejected and led to his suicide.

Job 12:17 Allusion

Job 12:17 states God leads counselors away stripped — Ahithophel's counsel was rejected and he died, a vivid example of this truth.

Job 5:13 Allusion

Job 5:13 says God catches the wise in their craftiness — Ahithophel's wisdom was thwarted, leading to his suicide, illustrating this principle.

In 1 Corinthians 3:19, worldly wisdom is folly; God catches the wise—Ahithophel's crafty counsel failed, leading to death.

Psalm 5:10 Allusion

In Psalm 5:10, the psalmist prays for the wicked to fall by their own intrigues; Ahithophel's intrigue led to his downfall.

Psalm 55:23 Allusion

In Psalm 55:23, God brings down the deceitful prematurely; Ahithophel's life ended early after betraying David.

Isaiah 8:10 Parallel

In Isaiah 8:10, counsel is brought to nothing—Ahithophel's rejected counsel ended in suicide, showing futility of plans against God.

In Isaiah 44:25, God frustrates wise men—Ahithophel's wise counsel was rejected, making his knowledge foolish.

In 1 Corinthians 1:20, God makes worldly wisdom foolish—Ahithophel, a wise counselor, saw his wisdom rejected and died.

In 1 Samuel 31:4, Saul also commits suicide after defeat, paralleling Ahithophel's suicide after his counsel fails.

Psalm 55:15 Allusion

Psalm 55:15 invokes sudden death for the treacherous — Ahithophel’s suicide echoes this judgment on those who plot evil.

Psalm 109:20 asks that accusers receive their due from the LORD — Ahithophel’s suicide is the reward for his betrayal of David.

1 Chronicles 27:33 Historical context

In 1 Chronicles 27:33, Ahithophel is named as David's counselor, confirming his role and setting the stage for his later actions.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 notes that the wise do not always get favor — Ahithophel, despite his wisdom, saw his counsel rejected and lost.

In 1 Kings 16:18, Zimri commits suicide after a failed rebellion, similar to Ahithophel's suicide after his counsel was rejected.

1 Chronicles 10:4 describes Saul's suicide by sword — a parallel suicide account, though different in method and circumstance.