¹² While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for^[a] Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. The conspiracy grew in strength, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.^(A)

²³ Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle^[a] of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.^(A)

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring ruin on Absalom.^(A)

²³ 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; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.^(A)