Then someone reported to David, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ ‘Lord,’ David pleaded, ‘please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness! ’
I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep for ever and never wake up. This is the King’s declaration; the Lord of Armies is his name.
Therefore, I will again confound these people with wonder after wonder. The wisdom of their wise will vanish, and the perception of their perceptive will be hidden.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them ten times , better than all the magicians and mediums in his entire kingdom.
About Edom, this is what the Lord of Armies says: Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom rotted away?
The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.
When Ahithophel realised that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his home town. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God #– #such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have come. Let Israel recognise it! The prophet is a fool, and the inspired man is insane, because of the magnitude of your iniquity and hostility.
Egypt’s spirit will be disturbed within it, and I will frustrate its plans. Then they will enquire of worthless idols, ghosts, mediums, and spiritists.
For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.