New American Standard Bible 1995
2 Samuel 17:23
23Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not 1followed, he 2saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to 3his city, and 45set his house in order, and 6strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.
2 Samuel 17:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
Context of 2 Samuel 17:23
21It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you.” 22Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. 24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
Read all of 2 Samuel 172 Samuel 17:23 word by word
וַאֲחִיתֹ֣פֶל רָאָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֣א נֶעֶשְׂתָה֮ עֲצָתוֹ֒ וַיַּחֲבֹ֣שׁ אֶֽת־הַחֲמ֗וֹר וַיָּ֜קָם וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אֶל־עִיר֔וֹ וַיְצַ֥ו אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ וַיֵּחָנַ֑ק וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקֶ֥בֶר אָבִֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear
- Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל'ăchîythôphel · AhithophelH302
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- that his counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
- followedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- saddledחָבַשׁchâbash · to saddle/tieH2280
- donkeyחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
- and aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- and wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- to his homeבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- his cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- setצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- strangledחָנַקchânaq · to strangleH2614
- himself; thus he diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and was buriedקָבַרqâbar · to buryH6912
- in the graveקֶ֫בֶרqeber qibrâh · graveH6913
- of his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:23
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
- Proverbs 19:3The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord.
- 2 Samuel 15:12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.
- 2 Kings 20:1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”
- 2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”
- 1 Samuel 31:4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.
- 1 Kings 16:18When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
- Job 31:3Is it not calamity to the unjust And disaster to those who work iniquity?
- Psalms 5:10Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You.
- Psalms 55:23But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
- Matthew 27:5And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Put his household in order - This self-murder could not be called lunacy, as every step to it was deliberate. He foresaw Absalom's ruin; and he did not choose to witness it, and share in the disgrace: and he could expect no mercy at the hands of David. He was a very bad man, and died an unprepared and accursed death.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23To his city - To Giloh (marginal reference). Ahithophel was probably influenced by deep mortification at the slight put upon him by rejecting his counsel. He is a memorable example of the impotence of worldly wisdom. Compare the marginal reference.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-29Verses 22-29 Ahithophel hanged himself for vexation that his counsel was not followed. That will break a proud man's heart which will not break a humble man's sleep. He thought himself in danger, concluding, that, because his counsel was not followed, Absalom's cause would fail; and to prevent a possible public execution, he does justice upon himself. Thus the breath is stopped, and the head laid low, from which nothing could be expected but mischief…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23hanged himself: Ahithophel saw that David would win and Absalom would fail. He chose to take his own life instead of facing David.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed--His vanity was wounded, his pride mortified on finding that his ascendency was gone; but that chagrin was aggravated by other feelings--a painful conviction that through the delay which had been resolved on, the cause of Absalom was lost. Hastening home, therefore, he arranged his private affairs, and knowing that the storm of retributive vengeance would fall chiefly upon him as the instigator and…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:23
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit done ↩
- 2. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit bound ↩
- 3. 2 Samuel 17:23 2 Sam 15:12 ↩
- 4. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit gave charge to ↩
- 5. 2 Samuel 17:23 2 Kin 20:1 ↩
- 6. 2 Samuel 17:23 Matt 27:5 ↩
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries