15 And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, have come in to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him, 16 and it cometh to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, hath come unto Absalom, that Hushai saith unto Absalom, 'Let the king live! let the king live!' 17 And Absalom saith unto Hushai, 'This thy kindness with thy friend! why hast thou not gone with thy friend?' 18 And Hushai saith unto Absalom, 'Nay, for he whom Jehovah hath chosen, and this people, even all the men of Israel, his I am, and with him I abide; 19 and secondly, for whom do I labour? is it not before his son? as I served before thy father so am I before thee.' 20 And Absalom saith unto Ahithophel, 'Give for you counsel what we do.' 21 And Ahithophel saith unto Absalom, 'Go in unto the concubines of thy father, whom he left to keep the house, and all Israel hath heard that thou hast been abhorred by thy father, and the hands of all who 'are' with thee have been strong.' 22 And they spread out for Absalom the tent on the roof, and Absalom goeth in unto the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel which he counselled in those days 'is' as 'when' one inquireth at the word of God; so 'is' all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:15-23
Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:15-23
(Read 2 Samuel 16:15-23)
The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. After all, honesty is the best policy, and will be found so in the long run. Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom; to render himself so hateful to his father, that he would never be reconciled to him; this cursed policy was of the devil. How desperately wicked is the human heart!