New American Standard Bible 2020
2 Samuel 17:23
23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been 1followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to 2his city, and 34set his house in order, and 5hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.
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 reported to King David; and they said to David, “Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave. 24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25Absalom put Amasa in command of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who had relations with 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 adviceעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
- followedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- he saddledחָבַשׁchâbash · to saddle/tieH2280
- donkeyחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
- and setקָמָיqûm · (Leb)-kamaiH6965
- and wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- to his homeבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- his cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- setצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- hangedחָנַקchânaq · to strangleH2614
- himself; so he diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and was buriedקָבַרqâbar · to buryH6912
- in his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- graveקֶ֫בֶרqeber qibrâh · graveH6913
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:23
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
- Proverbs 19:3The foolishness of a person 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 continually increased 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, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.’”
- 2 Samuel 15:31Now someone informed David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”
- 1 Samuel 31:4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and pierce me through, and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was unwilling, because he was very fearful. 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 himself with fire, and died,
- Job 31:3Is it not disaster to the criminal, And misfortune to those who practice injustice?
- Psalms 5:10Make them pay, God; Have them fall by their own schemes! Scatter them in the multitude of their wrongdoings, For they are rebellious against You.
- Psalms 55:23But You, 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 left; 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 2 Sam 15:12 ↩
- 3. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit ordered in regard to ↩
- 4. 2 Samuel 17:23 2 Kin 20:1 ↩
- 5. 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 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries