And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
- BSB Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
- NKJV Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.
- NASB So the king left, and all his household with him; but the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house.
- NLT So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David departs with his household but leaves ten concubines to keep the palace. This decision will have tragic consequences as Nathan's prophecy unfolds.
Overview
As David flees, he leaves ten concubines behind, a detail that sets up the fulfillment of Nathan's word that David's wives would be violated in the sight of Israel (12:11). Absalom will publicly take them (16:22), and they will live in seclusion thereafter (20:3). The verse shows the unfolding of divine judgment on David's earlier sin, even as God's mercy preserves him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Sam 16:21–22And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
- Ps 3:1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
- 2 Sam 20:3And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
- Rom 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- 1 Sam 25:27And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
- 1 Sam 25:42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
- Judg 4:10And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
- 2 Sam 12:11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 15:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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