Q: What was the counsel of Ahithophel?

A:  The counsel of Ahithophel is mentioned by the priest at the end of the Three Great Litanies, which are prayed after the Gospel and before the congregation recites the Creed. The priest asks the Lord to protect us from evil counsels (or people who give us advice that keep us away from God) and to “disperse their counsel, O God, who dispersed the counsel of Ahithophel.”

Ahithophel was one of the advisors to King David the Prophet and Psalmist. In the old days, people like Ahithophel used to be close with kings to provide them with advice and their opinions. During David’s reign, Absalom, who was his son, decided to lead a revolt to take over the throne. When David heard this, he fled the town, and Ahithophel then decided to change loyalties and advise Absalom. Ahithophel’s opinions were so respected, that the Bible tells us “the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God.” Moreover, this was the case with “all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom” (2 Samuel 16:23). This was especially unfortunate because Ahithophel’s advice was so deceitful that he even convinced Absalom to try and kill David and to sleep with some of David’s other wives! However, David, upon hearing all this distressful news, prayed and said “O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” (2 Samuel 15:31). (Note the similarity between this verse and what the priest prays to God during every liturgy). Thankfully, the Lord heard David’s prayer, and Ahithophel, as well as Absalom, were overthrown, and Ahithophel died a shameful death by hanging himself at his own house.

To read the whole story of Ahithophel, please read 2 Samuel, Chapters 15-17.