2 Samuel 15:16 kjv
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
2 Samuel 15:16 nkjv
Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.
2 Samuel 15:16 niv
The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace.
2 Samuel 15:16 esv
So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
2 Samuel 15:16 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.
2 Samuel 15 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 12:11 | Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own house; and I will take your wives... openly." | Prophecy of house's harm & public disgrace |
| 2 Sam 16:21-22 | Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father’s concubines… all Israel will hear..." Then they pitched Absalom a tent... he went in to his father’s concubines... | Fulfillment of 2 Sam 12:11-12; public defilement |
| 2 Sam 20:3 | David returned to his house at Jerusalem. The king took the ten women, his concubines... he put them under guard... | David's permanent separation from concubines |
| Psa 3:1-2 | Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me... | David's flight and distress reflected in Psalms |
| Psa 57:1 | Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. | David's plea for divine protection in exile |
| Isa 6:12 | The Lord will remove people far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. | Abandonment due to judgment |
| Jer 7:15 | And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your brothers... | Divine casting out/exile |
| Lam 1:3 | Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place. | National exile, echoing personal displacement |
| Hos 3:3 | "You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the harlot..." | Concept of isolation for specific purposes |
| Matt 8:20 | And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." | Jesus' own humble/homeless state, fleeing persecution |
| John 6:66 | After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. | Disciples abandoning their leader |
| 1 Pet 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example... | Suffering as a leader, leaving an example |
| Deut 17:16 | Only he must not acquire many horses for himself... or acquire many wives for himself... | Kings cautioned against acquiring many wives |
| 1 Kgs 11:3-4 | He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines... his wives turned away his heart. | Solomon's many women and heart turned |
| Gen 12:10 | Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe. | Abraham's departure/sojourn in distress |
| Gen 27:43 | Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: flee to Laban my brother in Haran... | Jacob's flight from Esau |
| Exod 14:5 | When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled... | Pharaoh reacting to Israel's flight |
| Num 3:38 | And those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east... were Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary... | Assigning specific people to "keep" something sacred |
| Judg 19:2-4 | His concubine played the harlot against him... his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, detained him... | Concubines in the broader biblical narrative |
| Prov 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. | Flight indicating trouble or guilt |
| Eccl 9:11 | The race is not to the swift... nor bread to the wise... nor favor to the skillful... | Unpredictable turns in life (David's reversal) |
| Rom 8:35 | Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine... | Steadfastness amidst distress vs. David's plight |
| Heb 13:14 | For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. | Concept of a temporary earthly dwelling and searching for refuge |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 16 Meaning
2 Samuel 15:16 describes King David's hasty departure from Jerusalem due to Absalom's rebellion. The verse specifically notes that David left the city with his entire loyal household, servants, and family members who chose to follow him, indicating a broad and loyal retinue. However, a significant detail is his deliberate act of leaving behind ten specific women, identified as concubines, to watch over the royal palace. This act marks a moment of vulnerability, calculated strategy, and the beginning of a divine judgment previously prophesied against David's house.
2 Samuel 15 16 Context
2 Samuel chapter 15 narrates the peak of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. Absalom, having steadily won the hearts of the people over four years through cunning and charm, finally declares himself king in Hebron. News of the widespread conspiracy reaches David, prompting his immediate and urgent decision to evacuate Jerusalem. David's rationale is to prevent Absalom from seizing the city and putting its inhabitants to the sword. The context is one of a king facing a swift and overwhelming betrayal from his own son, leading to a reluctant and desperate flight. This desperate act is further shadowed by the prophet Nathan's previous prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:11-12, foretelling calamity and public shame for David from within his own household due to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.
2 Samuel 15 16 Word analysis
- And the king: və-ham-melek (וְהַמֶּלֶךְ). Refers to David, the anointed sovereign of Israel. This designation highlights the ironic situation of a powerful king being forced to flee his own capital by his son. The divine anointing does not negate human consequences of sin or political upheaval.
- went forth: yatza (יָצָא). A common Hebrew verb meaning "to go out," "depart," or "come forth." In this context, it signifies an urgent and deliberate evacuation. It implies leaving a place that was once a center of power and security, now compromised.
- and all his household: və-ḵol-bêṯōw (וְכָל-בֵּיתוֹ). "Household" (בַּיִת, bayit) here encompasses David's entire extended family, officials, servants, loyal military personnel, and anyone else who resided in or served his immediate royal complex. This shows the scale of his entourage and the widespread loyalty that still existed despite Absalom's usurpation. The solidarity of those following underscores David's lingering influence.
- after him: ’aḥarāyw (אַחֲרָיו). Emphasizes their loyal accompaniment, signifying following the king, physically and metaphorically, even into an uncertain exile.
- and he left: vayya‘azov (וַיַּעֲזֹב). From the verb azav (עָזַב), "to abandon," "forsake," "leave behind." This is a stark and intentional act. It is not an oversight, but a calculated decision, highlighting David's difficult choices under pressure and a significant deviation from taking "all" his household.
- ten women: ‘eser nāšîm (עֶשֶׂר נָשִׁים). The specific number is given for precise detail. This highlights that this was a deliberate, specific group selected for this task and consequence, rather than a general part of his household left behind.
- concubines: pîlāgšîm (פִּילַגְשִׁים). These were secondary wives in ancient Near Eastern royal courts, holding a status lower than principal wives but higher than regular servants. They often bore children to the king, securing his lineage. Their public possession was a symbol of a king's power and continuity. Being left behind made them vulnerable symbols.
- to keep the house: lišmōr hab-bāyit (לִשְׁמֹר הַבָּיִת). "To keep" or "to guard." Superficially, their role was to watch over the palace. However, this action also left them as defenceless representatives of David's authority, who would later become instruments in Absalom's strategic claim to the throne and a public fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy against David's house. The "house" refers specifically to the royal palace in Jerusalem.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the king went forth and all his household after him": This phrase conveys the swiftness and extent of the loyal evacuation. It portrays David as a leader still able to command significant fidelity even in crisis. The image is one of a leader leading his loyal followers into the wilderness, mirroring previous instances of seeking refuge in Israelite history.
- "and he left ten women concubines to keep the house": This crucial phrase highlights David's strategic decision born out of necessity or fear. However, in light of prior prophecy (2 Sam 12:11), this act sets the stage for the humiliation of David and the symbolic usurpation of his kingship through Absalom's defilement of these very women (2 Sam 16:21-22). Leaving them was ostensibly for guarding the palace, but unwittingly rendered them into pawns in the unfolding rebellion and instruments of divine judgment.
2 Samuel 15 16 Bonus section
The plight of these ten concubines did not end with Absalom's brief reign. After David's return to Jerusalem and the defeat of Absalom, these women were permanently set aside. 2 Samuel 20:3 states that David put them under guard for the rest of their lives, providing for them but having no further intimacy with them. This isolation marked a lingering scar from the rebellion and a continuous, visual reminder of the public shame David had endured. Their permanent segregation ensured no further legal challenge or symbolic usurpation through them, but also left them in a state of perpetual widowhood despite their living husband, highlighting the tragic and lasting ripple effects of David's initial sin and the subsequent family tragedy. Their story serves as a stark testament to the enduring consequences of moral failure, even for God's anointed, and the severity of divine justice that impacts innocent individuals caught in the fallout.
2 Samuel 15 16 Commentary
2 Samuel 15:16 concisely depicts a moment of deep humiliation for King David. His hurried exit from Jerusalem signifies the abrupt and devastating success of Absalom's rebellion. The loyalty of his accompanying "household" emphasizes the personal commitment many still held towards the king, choosing to share his uncertain fate over joining the usurper. The act of leaving ten concubines to "keep the house" is fraught with deeper meaning than mere delegation. While perhaps intended as a strategic move to show some continued royal presence or care for the palace, it directly paved the way for the prophetic judgment of 2 Samuel 12:11. Nathan had prophesied that calamity would come upon David from his own household and his wives would be taken publicly. Absalom's subsequent defilement of these very concubines on the palace roof (2 Sam 16:21-22) perfectly fulfilled this dire prophecy, publicly shaming David and symbolically demonstrating Absalom's full usurpation of royal authority. This verse therefore encapsulates David's vulnerability, the tragic consequences of his past sins manifesting through family conflict, and the sovereignty of God working out His judgment even amidst human rebellion.