A person told David, “Ahithophel is one of the people who made plans with Absalom.” Then David prayed, “Lord, I ask you to make Ahithophel’s advice useless.”
But if you go back to Jerusalem, you can make Ahithophel’s advice become useless. Tell Absalom, ‘King, I am your servant. I served your father, but now I will serve you.’
Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” {They said this} because it was the Lord’s plan. The Lord had planned to make Ahithophel’s good advice useless. That is how the Lord would punish Absalom.
Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice. Ahithophel put a saddle on his donkey and went back to his home town. He made plans for his family and then he hanged himself. After Ahithophel died, the people buried him in his father’s tomb. [101]
But the man of God [62] (Elisha) sent a message to the king of Israel. Elisha said, “Be careful! Don’t go by that place! The Aramean soldiers are hiding there!”
Those people from other nations\par dug holes to trap other people.\par But they fell into their own traps.\par Those people hid nets to trap other people.\par But they were caught in those nets.\par
The people of Egypt will be confused. The people will ask their false gods and wise men what they should do. The people will ask their wizards and magicians. But their advice will be worthless.”
The skies are happy because the Lord did great things.\par The earth is happy, even deep down under the earth!\par The mountains sing with thanks to God.\par All the trees in the forest are happy!\par Why? Because the Lord saved Jacob.\par The Lord did great things for Israel.\par
False prophets {\cf2\super [397]} tell lies, but the Lord shows their lies are false. The Lord makes foolish people of the men that do magic. The Lord confuses even wise men. They think they know much, but the Lord makes them look foolish.
At this place, I will ruin the plans of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The enemy will chase these people. And I will let the people of Judah be killed with swords in this place. And I will make their dead bodies food for the birds and wild animals.