²¹ Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines 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.”

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 affairs in order^[a] and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.