²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice^(A) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”^(B) For the Lord had determined to frustrate^(C) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster^(D) on Absalom.^(E)

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice^(A) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order^(B) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.