Even before the drama of Absalom's rebellion, there was a simmering tension between them. Why? Well, it seems David might have inadvertently slighted him.

The story goes that shortly after becoming king, David appointed a whopping ninety thousand people to various positions in a single day! Imagine the bureaucracy! According to Legends of the Jews, this massive নিয়োগ (niyud, appointment) left Ahithophel feeling passed over. But the real friction arose during a peculiar incident involving the Ark of the Covenant.

Now, picture this: The Ark, the most sacred object to the Israelites, is being moved from Geba to Jerusalem. But something goes terribly wrong. As the priests attempt to carry it, they are lifted into the air and violently thrown to the ground! A disaster! David, understandably distraught, turns to Ahithophel for help.

And Ahithophel's response? It's dripping with sarcasm. "Ask thy wise men," he retorts, "whom thou hast but now installed in office." Ouch. Talk about passive-aggressive!

Only when David utters a curse on anyone who knows a solution but withholds it from someone suffering, does Ahithophel offer advice. He suggests offering a sacrifice at every step the priests take. And, miraculously, it works! The Ark is safely brought to Jerusalem.

But here's the thing: Ahithophel’s advice, while effective, wasn't entirely honest. He knew the real reason for the mishap, but he kept it from the king. You see, David hadn't followed the proper protocol for transporting the Ark. Instead of having it carried on the shoulders of priests, as prescribed by Jewish law (Numbers 7:9), he had it placed on a wagon. This, according to the narrative in Legends of the Jews (drawing on sources like the Talmud in Yoma 53a), incurred God's wrath.

So, what does this tell us? Perhaps it's a reminder that even the wisest among us can harbor resentment. Or that sometimes, the most obvious solutions are hidden by pride and ego. And maybe, just maybe, it's a cautionary tale about the importance of following tradition, even when it seems inconvenient. After all, messing with the Ark of the Covenant wasn't exactly a low-stakes game.