“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:1-3).
It is clear that Yeshua and the authors of the Gospels regarded Yeshua’s betrayal as a fulfillment of Scripture (see Mark 14:18, 21). And the book of Psalms portrays the betrayal of king David by a close friend in a prophetic context (see Psa 41:9[10]). That said, it is only by giving attention to the narrative details about David’s betrayal by Ahitophel that the full extent of the “fulfillment of Scripture” in the New Testament comes to light.
As is so often the case, narratives in the Hebrew Bible prove to be a critical resource for making sense of many oft-overlooked details about the story of Yeshua in the New Testament.
According to John’s Gospel, the moment of Judas’ betrayal occurred when Yeshua left the city of Jerusalem and crossed over the “ravine of the Kidron” to a specific place on the Mount of Olives. Why was it necessary for John to mention the “ravine of the Kidron”? Because David took exactly the same route when he was betrayed by his close friend Ahitophel. By reading the story of David’s betrayal in light of prophecy, the story of Yeshua’s betrayal emerges from the pages with detailed accuracy. The only key difference between the two stories is that Ahitophel’s advice to catch King David on the Mount of Olives was thwarted and so he went and hung himself; whereas Judas’ advice was heeded, and Yeshua was caught, and killed. And then Judas went and hung himself.
As is so often the case, narratives in the Hebrew Bible prove to be a critical resource for making sense of many oft-overlooked details about the story of Yeshua in the New Testament. In this case, by carefully reading the story of King David’s betrayal by Ahitophel, we see Jesus!
“While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness…. And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. Now someone told David, saying, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ And David said, ‘O LORD, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.’ … Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight.’ … Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hung himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father” (2 Sam 15:23, 30-31; 2 Sam 17:1, 23).
