2 Samuel 17 · a question people ask
Was Ahithophel's counsel really good?
The book calls it good. Hushai told Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good" (17:7), and Absalom and the men of Israel said Hushai's counsel was "better" (17:14). But in the same verse the book's own words are "the good counsel of Ahithophel" (17:14). In Hebrew, not good, better and good here all use the one word tov. The book had said before how Ahithophel's counsel was held: "as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this both with David and with Absalom" (16:23). The chapter doesn't say more about what made this counsel good. It was counsel to "strike the king" (17:2), David, and 17:14 says the LORD had ordained to defeat it "to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom" (17:14).
The verses
“I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the king only,”
“Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.””
“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, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom.”
“The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this both with David and with Absalom.”