ACHITOPHEL. — Shrewd counsellor, later traitor, of David, a native of Gilo (Jahleel) in the mountains of Judah, father of the hero Elia (2 Kings 23:24). In Absalom’s conspiracy he took the side of the rebellious son, causing David great pain and distrust; seeing himself lost, David turned to the Lord to frustrate ACHITOPHEL’s advice (2 Kings 15:31). To prevent any reconciliation between father and son, ACHITOPHEL counselled Absalom to take his father’s concubines publicly and without delay, and to pursue the disheartened fugitive king relentlessly. Absalom followed this counsel only in part, and was persuaded by Hushai to delay. Acting out of personal ambition and aware that the rebel’s cause was already hopeless, ACHITOPHEL returned to Gilo, set his house in order, and hanged himself (2 Kings 16–17).
In the Psalms (40:10; especially 54:13–15) David expresses his indignation and grief at the betrayal of his intimate confidant, a betrayal to which Jesus seems to allude with regard to Judas (John 13:18).