2 Samuel 23:33

Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the sonne of Sharar the Hararite, 2 Samuel 23:33 (KJV)

2 Samuel 23:33 is part of a passage that lists the names of David’s mighty men, who were renowned warriors and commanders in his army.

However, Ahithophel and Hushai are not mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:33. “And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion.” While Ahithophel was not one of David’s mighty men but rather a counselor or advisor to King David, Hushai was a companion or close friend of the king.

Ahithophel is referenced in 2 Samuel 15:12 as a counselor to King David, and later betrays him by joining Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17). Hushai the Archite is mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:32 as a loyal friend of David who was sent to counter Ahithophel’s counsel during Absalom’s rebellion.

The original statement incorrectly attributes these details to 2 Samuel 23:33, which does not contain either name. The actual content of 2 Samuel 23:33 (KJV) lists military commanders such as ‘Ahithophel the Gilonite’ is not present in this verse; the verse contains names like ‘Helez the Paltite, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,’ etc. The entire section of 2 Samuel 23:8-39 is a list of David’s mighty men, but Ahithophel and Hushai are not among them. The confusion likely stems from mixing details from different passages. Ahithophel was indeed a counselor to David who later betrayed him, and Hushai was a loyal friend who worked against Ahithophel’s counsel during Absalom’s rebellion, but these events are recorded in 2 Samuel 15-17, not 2 Samuel 23:33.