31 and David declared, saying, 'Ahithophel 'is' among the conspirators with Absalom;' and David saith, 'Make foolish, I pray Thee, the counsel of Ahithophel, O Jehovah.' 32 And it cometh to pass, David hath come unto the top, where he boweth himself to God, and lo, to meet him 'is' Hushai the Archite, his coat rent, and earth on his head; 33 and David saith to him, 'If thou hast passed on with me then thou hast been on me for a burden, 34 and if to the city thou dost turn back, and hast said to Absalom, Thy servant I am, O king; servant of thy father I 'am' also hitherto, and now, I 'am' also thy servant; then thou hast made void for me the counsel of Ahithophel; 35 and are there not with thee there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it hath been, the whole of the matter that thou hearest from the house of the king thou dost declare to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests. 36 Lo, there with them 'are' their two sons, Ahimaaz to Zadok, and Jonathan to Abiathar, and ye have sent by their hand unto me anything that ye hear.' 37 And Hushai, David's friend, cometh in to the city, and Absalom cometh in to Jerusalem.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:31-37
Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:31-37
(Read 2 Samuel 15:31-37)
David prays not against Ahithophel's person, but against his counsel. He prayed this, in firm belief that God has all hearts in his hand, and tongues also. But we must second our prayers with endeavours, and David did so, else we tempt God. But we do not find wisdom and simplicity so united in any mere man, that we can perceive nothing which needs forgiveness. Yet, when the Son of David was treated with all possible treachery and cruelty, his wisdom, meekness, candour, and patience, were perfect. Him let us follow, cleave to, and serve, in life and in death.