Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel what we shall do.”
- KJV Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
- NKJV Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
- NASB Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?”
- NLT Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Absalom turns to Ahithophel for counsel on how to proceed. This introduces the rebellion's most dangerous adviser and the testing of David's prayer against him.
Overview
With Jerusalem seized, Absalom seeks strategic guidance from Ahithophel, whose wisdom was famed (v. 23). David had prayed for this counsel to be turned to foolishness (15:31), so the chapter sets the stage for that prayer's answer. The narrative underscores that human wisdom, however shrewd, cannot prevail against the LORD's purpose to preserve His king.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ps 37:12–13The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
- Matt 27:1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Isa 8:10Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
- Exod 1:10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
- Acts 4:23–28On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
- Ps 2:2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Isa 29:15Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 16:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.