2 Samuel 15:31

31 Then someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

2 Samuel 15:31 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:31

And [one] told David
That came either from Hebron or from Jerusalem:

Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom;
Absalom sent for him, and it seems he came to him, and continued with him, see ( 2 Samuel 15:12 ) ;

and David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness;
either suffer him to give foolish counsel, or confound the schemes projected by him, and let them not be carried into execution; for God can, and sometimes does, disappoint crafty counsellors, that they cannot perform what they devise, but they are taken in their own craftiness, and their counsel is carried headlong, ( Job 5:12 Job 5:13 ) ; this prayer was answered, ( 2 Samuel 17:14 2 Samuel 17:23 ) .

2 Samuel 15:31 In-Context

29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

31 Then someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God--there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33 David said to him, "If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.