"They feared fear itself. The righteous were afraid when they saw Ahithophel in Gehenna." And they said about that righteous person, "If he [Achitofel] acted this way [and was punished with Gehenna], how much more so will we [be punished]." But the Holy One, blessed be He, judged and showed the righteous his [Achitofel's] actions, and they rejoiced about him [i.e., his deserving to be thus punished].
Therefore, it is said, "there was no fear." Another interpretation: In the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will say, "I said that the people of Israel would ascend Anona, I said the fear of Anona, but I did not say that they would be subjected to the fear of destruction." There was no fear. As it is written (Psalms 14:6), "You would put to shame the counsel of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge."
What is the counsel of the poor? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You have built your own houses of idolatry." And once I tell you to build Jerusalem, you say to me (Isaiah 54:11), "Afflicted one, storm-tossed, uncomforted!" Woe to the counsel of the poor; they will be put to shame. And so it is said, "Shame befalls those who reject the Lord."