Author: lowen

Continuing our study of suicides in the Bible, we have come back around to the suicide of Ahithophel, which is what started us down this road. Ahithophel’s suicide is different from the others: Abimelech had his armourbearer kill him because his pride wouldn’t let him be known as one killed by a woman; Samson killed…

Continuing our study of suicide in the Bible, this week we look at the twin suicides of Saul and his armourbearer. Their situation hopeless, and being sore wounded, Saul asks his armourbearer to kill him, but the armourbearer refuses. So Saul takes his own life. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye!

Suicide. It’s almost a dirty word in some circles. Painfully personal, this word is about as loaded a word as any in the English language. This week on the podcast, we’re going to study the suicide of Samson.

We now start our study on what the Bible says about suicide, by studying the suicides that are recorded in the Bible itself. There are seven suicides: Abimelech, Samson, Saul, Saul’s armorbearer, Ahithophel, Zimri, and Judas Iscariot. Today we begin with Abimelech, the first King of Israel, in Judges chapter 6.

Absalom has asked for Hushai’s advice, and prefers it to Ahithophel’s. Hushai then dispatches Ahimaaz and Jonathan – how barely escape. Ahithophel sees his advice is not followed, so he goes home, sets his house in order, and commits suicide. Many many consequences from David’s sin!

You know, Ahithophel was mad. Really mad. If he was indeed Bathsheba’s grandfather, which is highly likely, he had every reason to be mad. Called out of retirement by Absalom, Ahithophel was ready for revenge. Now that Absalom had defiled David’s concubines, Ahithophel gives good advice on how to proceed, but he, Ahithophel, will lead…