2 Samuel 16:15
ESV
Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
NIV
Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
NASB
Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
CSB
Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him.
NLT
Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.
KJV
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
NKJV
Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.
What does 2 Samuel 16:15 mean?
David and his people have reached the Jordan River. Absalom has entered Jerusalem; Ahithophel is with him. Ahithophel had been David's official counselor, respected by all as wise and trustworthy. When David learned of the defection, he could only pray, "O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness (2 Samuel 15:31)."Ahithophel will advise Absalom to sleep with David's concubines on David's roof. For Absalom, it's a sign that he has completely broken with and taken dominance over his father (2 Samuel 16:20–22). To David, it's the final piece of God's judgment for his betrayal of Uriah. As he took Uriah's wife in secret, so God cursed David, saying, "I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun" (2 Samuel 12:11–12).
To ensure Absalom's success, Ahithophel will also request 12,000 men to hunt David down before he can regroup (2 Samuel 17:1). David likely had this in mind when he wrote, "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). The similarities between the two have led scholars to see Ahithophel as a type of Judas, down to the fact that they both hanged themselves after they betrayed their Lord (2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5).
Fortunately, Ahithophel is not invincible. David has sent his friend Hushai to infiltrate Absalom's council and mitigate Ahithophel's advice. First, however, Hushai must convince Absalom that he, too, has switched sides (2 Samuel 16:16–19).
