Figure Analysis
Ahithophel is a wise counselor—though not a particularly loyal one, since he abandons David to give advice to his rebellious son, Absalom. Everyone esteems his counsel and considers it to be almost like an "oracle of God."
But Ahithophel is no prophet—he's a traitor. Rather like Judas after betraying Jesus, Ahithophel hangs himself when Absalom rejects Ahithophel's correct advice in favor of that of Hushai (who is actually a spy for David.)