שמואל ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק כ״ג

In the society of David and Absalom, the counsel of Ahithophel carried absolute and unquestioned authority. His guidance was treated with the same reverence as a direct instruction from God, and no one dared to challenge it. Understanding this absolute authority explains why Absalom executed the shocking and public advice to approach his father's concubines without a moment of hesitation. Absalom was simply adopting the exact same advisory system that his father had always relied upon [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This immense respect for Ahithophel also explains why Hushai and the elders of the people remained completely silent and did not argue against the plan. Opposing Ahithophel was unthinkable, and Hushai specifically feared that speaking up would make him suspected of lingering loyalty to David [אברבנאל]. By establishing Ahithophel's unmatched status at this moment, the narrative sets the stage for his upcoming clash with Hushai. It highlights the sheer magnitude of the miracle when God later causes Absalom to reject such an infallible advisor [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

During his tenure as a counselor, Ahithophel's guidance offered absolute certainty. Just as a person seeking an answer from God trusts it to be true, anyone following Ahithophel's strategy was guaranteed to achieve their desired result [מצודת דוד]. His plans reflected a flawless understanding of cause and effect, leading some to suggest he possessed a level of divine inspiration that perfected his thinking [אברבנאל]. His loyalty, however, was strictly practical and focused entirely on whoever he was serving at the time. Even though Ahithophel was the grandfather of David's wife Bathsheba, his advice was always ruthlessly effective for his current master. When he advised David, his counsel was perfectly tailored for him, and when he joined the traitors, his strategies were perfectly designed for Absalom and against David [רלב״ג, אברבנאל]. Though his recommendations to Absalom, both regarding the concubines and the pursuit of David, were morally wicked, they were strategically brilliant. The public act with the concubines successfully proved to Absalom's followers that the rift with his father was permanent, which emboldened them and strengthened their resolve [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

A subtle detail in the written record, where the word for "man" is read aloud but omitted from the written text, reveals even more about how Ahithophel was perceived. On a practical level, the absence of the word points directly to David as the primary person who used to consult him, while the spoken addition of the word broadens the meaning to include anyone else who sought his advice [רד״ק]. More profoundly, the missing word suggests that his wisdom was so superhuman that he was viewed less as a regular mortal and more as an angel [מנחת שי, רד״ק, אלשיך, אברבנאל]. At the same time, this omission serves as a necessary boundary. It prevents the reader from mistakenly thinking that Ahithophel himself was the one asking God and receiving direct answers, ensuring that such a high spiritual level is not attributed to an unworthy person [אלשיך]. Ultimately, the missing word acts as a humbling reminder that a human being always lacks divine perfection. No mortal's advice can truly stand firm like the word of God unless their intentions are pure and directed toward heaven [מנחת שי].