"And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." But there was one who was not deceived--one who clearly foresaw the result of this fatal mistake of Absalom's. Ahithophel knew that the cause of the rebels was lost. And he knew that whatever might be the fate of the prince, there was no hope for the counselor who had instigated his greatest crimes. Ahithophel had encouraged. Absalom in rebellion; he had counseled him to the most abominable wickedness, to the dishonor of his father; he had advised the slaying of David and had planned its accomplishment; he had cut off the last possibility of his own reconciliation with the king; and now another was preferred before him, even by Absalom. Jealous, angry, and desperate, Ahithophel "gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died." Such was the result of the wisdom of one, who, with all his high endowments, did not make God his counselor. Satan allures men with flattering promises, but in the end it will be found by every soul, that the "wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23.

Da sagde Absalom og alle Israels mænd: "Arkitten Husjajs råd er bedre end Akitofels!" Men der var en, som ikke lod sig føre bag lyset. Han indså klart, hvad der ville blive følgen af Absaloms skæbnesvangre fejltagelse. Akitofel vidste, at oprørenes sag var tabt. Han var også klar over, at, hvordan prinsens skæbne end ville forme sig, var der intet håb for den rådgiver, som havde tilskyndet ham til at begå de største af alle hans forbrydelser. Akitofel havde ansporet Absalom til at gøre oprør. Han havde foreslået ham den værst tænkelige forbrydelse for at vanære hans fader. Han havde rådet ham til at dræbe David og havde stillet forslag om, hvordan det kunne gøres. Han havde forspildt sin sidste mulighed for at blive forsonet med kongen, og nu vragede selve Absalom ham til fordel for en anden. Akitofel var skinsyg, vred og dybt fortvivlet. Han "drog hjem til sin by; og efter at have beskikket sit hus hængte han sig og døde". Sådan gik det et menneske, som var højt begavet, men ikke gjorde Gud til sin rådgiver. Satan lokker menneskene med smigrende løfter, men til sidst vil hver eneste sjæl erfare, at "syndens løn er døden". Rom. 6, 23.