Brothers of Folly

2Sa 16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
2Sa 16:21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
2Sa 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 2Sa 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Absalom, that wicked self-possessed fool, son of David, rebel, murderer and usurper, has, as his counselor, Ahithophel.

This name means brother of folly and is not lost on this evil man. He counsels the would be king to erect a tent on a hilltop and parade all 10 of his father's concubines in for sex in the sight of the people. This is a strong statement that all that was his father's is now his.

Moreover, whatever Ahithophel counseled was considered by these fools as from God Himself.

I am put in mind of a president's chief of staff. Evil, wicked godless, unscrupulous. The absurdity of this kind of counsel is beyond the comprehension of reasonable people. It is unconscionable. Yet, soulless people of power exist and operate. But God will have the last word.

2Sa 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Pro 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.