²¹ Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace.^(A) When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.”^[a]

¹⁴ Since the Lord had decreed^(A) that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined^(B) in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.”

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