2 Samuel 16:21 kjv
And 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.
2 Samuel 16:21 nkjv
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong."
2 Samuel 16:21 niv
Ahithophel answered, "Sleep with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute."
2 Samuel 16:21 esv
Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."
2 Samuel 16:21 nlt
Ahithophel told him, "Go and sleep with your father's concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you."
2 Samuel 16 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 12:11-12 | "Thus says the Lord... I will raise up evil against you from your own house... take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun." | Prophecy fulfilled: David's private sin leads to public shame. |
| 2 Sam 3:6-8 | Ish-Bosheth accused Abner concerning Rizpah, Saul's concubine, perceiving it as a claim to Saul's throne. | Royal concubine use signifies king's power. |
| 1 Ki 2:22-25 | Solomon had Adonijah executed for asking for Abishag, David’s former concubine, viewing it as a clear attempt to claim the throne. | Claiming concubines implies kingship. |
| Deut 27:16 | "Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother." | Violation of the command against dishonoring parents. |
| Prov 30:17 | "The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley..." | Severe consequences for familial disrespect. |
| Exod 20:12 | "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." | Breach of Fifth Commandment. |
| Matt 15:4 | "For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’" | New Testament affirmation of parental honor. |
| Gen 35:22 | Reuben lay with Bilhah, his father Jacob's concubine, leading to him losing his birthright and privileges. | Prior biblical example of concubine violation and loss. |
| Lev 18:8 | "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife..." | Incestuous and forbidden sexual act. |
| Lev 20:11 | "If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death..." | Capital offense against the Mosaic Law. |
| 2 Sam 17:14 | "For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel..." | Divine intervention against Ahithophel's plans. |
| Job 5:13 | "He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end." | Ahithophel's 'wisdom' turns against him. |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God..." | Contrast between worldly and divine wisdom. |
| Prov 19:21 | "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." | God's sovereignty over human intentions. |
| Isa 35:3 | "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees." | Illustrates the idiom "strengthen hands" for encouragement. |
| Ezra 1:6 | "...and strengthened their hands with articles of silver and gold..." | Example of "strengthening hands" by providing resources. |
| Neh 6:9 | "For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.’ But now, O God, strengthen my hands." | "Strengthening hands" as providing courage/resolve. |
| 2 Sam 15:12 | Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor, joined Absalom’s conspiracy. | Background of Ahithophel's defection. |
| Ps 55:12-14 | Lament of a betrayed friend: "It is not an enemy who taunts me... but it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my close friend." | Echoes David's betrayal by Ahithophel. |
| Heb 12:15 | "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." | Absalom's rebellion as a source of defilement. |
| Rom 1:24, 26, 28 | God gave them up to uncleanness... God gave them up to dishonorable passions... God gave them up to a debased mind. | Broader consequences of moral depravity and rejection of God. |
| Judg 19:22 | Men of Gibeah surrounded a house demanding a Levite, threatening to rape him. | Instances of severe sexual depravity and public outrage. |
2 Samuel 16 verses
2 Samuel 16 21 Meaning
Ahithophel’s counsel to Absalom was a strategic and calculated move designed to solidify the rebellion against David. By publicly defiling David’s concubines, Absalom would signal an irreversible break with his father and irrevocably commit himself to taking the throne. This abhorrent act would be known by all Israel, proving Absalom's absolute rejection of David's kingship and person. Consequently, those who followed Absalom would realize there was no possibility of reconciliation with David, thus strengthening their resolve and loyalty to Absalom's cause.
2 Samuel 16 21 Context
This verse is situated during Absalom’s rebellion against his father King David. David has fled Jerusalem, and Absalom has entered the city, seeking to consolidate his newly claimed power. Ahithophel, formerly David's trusted advisor, has now defected to Absalom and becomes his chief strategist. The counsel offered in this verse follows Absalom's query to Ahithophel regarding the next steps for the rebellion. The general context is a desperate power struggle within David's own family, fraught with betrayal, cunning, and profound spiritual implications regarding God's judgment and sovereignty.
2 Samuel 16 21 Word analysis
- Then Ahithophel: "Ahithophel" (אֲחִיתֹפֶל - Achitofel). His name might ironically mean "my brother is folly" or "brother of foolishness," despite his renowned wisdom (2 Sam 16:23). He was David's key counselor, and his defection signaled a grave threat to David's throne.
- said to Absalom: "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁלוֹם - Avshalom), meaning "my father is peace." Ironically, his actions bring anything but peace to his father. He represents rebellious ambition.
- “Go in to: (בֹּא אֶל - bo el) A common biblical idiom and euphemism for engaging in sexual intercourse. The phrase emphasizes the act's direct, personal, and defiling nature.
- your father’s concubines: (פִּילַגְשֵׁי - pilagshey) Secondary wives in a royal harem. They were part of the king’s personal property and symbolized his royal authority and succession. To "go in" to them was a highly public and legally symbolic act of usurping the previous king's throne and legitimacy. It constituted both an act of sexual defilement (incest, specifically stepmother-son, which was forbidden, Lev 18:8) and political seizure.
- and all Israel will hear: The emphasis is on the public knowledge and perception of this act. Its political impact depended on its widespread awareness throughout the nation, symbolizing an open and definitive breach with David.
- that you have made yourself odious to your father: (נִבְאַשְׁתָּ - niv'ashta) from the root "בָּאַשׁ" (ba'ash), meaning "to stink," "to be loathsome," "abhorrent," or "detestable." This powerful word indicates Absalom would make himself so repulsive to David that reconciliation would be utterly impossible. It implies a moral and personal revulsion, making the breach irreparable.
- Then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened:” (וְחָזְקוּ יְדֵי - vechazku y'dei) An idiom signifying the resolve, commitment, or courage of a person or group. By committing an unforgivable act, Absalom ensured his followers had no option but to fully support him, knowing David would never forgive their complicity or Absalom himself. It meant burning bridges back to David and solidifying their future with Absalom alone.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "Go in to your father’s concubines… made yourself odious to your father": This strategic advice is about inflicting maximum symbolic damage. The act itself is a double blow: a direct, incestuous defilement (contrary to Mosaic Law) and a profound public humiliation that nullifies any potential future reconciliation between father and son. This isn't merely an act of political usurpation but a personal desecration designed to ensure an absolute break.
- "all Israel will hear… hands… strengthened": These two outcomes are intrinsically linked. The public notoriety of Absalom's egregious act served a critical strategic purpose. By committing a deed that would make reconciliation impossible, Ahithophel aimed to eliminate any uncertainty or wavering among Absalom's supporters. Knowing there was no turning back, their resolve and commitment to Absalom's cause would be fortified. It forces their allegiance through fear and shared complicity.
2 Samuel 16 21 Bonus section
Ahithophel’s possible motive for offering such brutal counsel might have stemmed from a deep-seated grievance: he is often identified as Bathsheba’s grandfather (Eliam, son of Ahithophel, 2 Sam 11:3, 23:34). If so, his betrayal of David could be interpreted not only as a political defection but as an act of revenge for David’s sin against his granddaughter and her husband Uriah. This personal vendetta, disguised as strategic political counsel, adds another layer of complexity to the tragic narrative, highlighting how sin often begets further sin and consequences within a family and nation.
2 Samuel 16 21 Commentary
Ahithophel's advice in 2 Samuel 16:21 reveals a chilling blend of political shrewdness and utter moral depravity. By urging Absalom to publicly lie with David's concubines, he orchestrated an act of maximum insult and irreversible defiance. This custom symbolized the claiming of a king's power and domain, utterly usurping David's authority (compare 2 Sam 3:6-8; 1 Ki 2:22). More profoundly, it directly fulfilled Nathan’s prophecy against David concerning his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:11-12), illustrating God's just consequences manifesting through human rebellion. The counsel was shrewd because it eliminated any path for Absalom to retreat or reconcile with David, thereby forcing the complete allegiance of his followers who now knew their fate was undeniably tied to Absalom’s victory. This calculated, abhorrent act served as a public declaration that Absalom had utterly rejected his filial bond and David's kingship, a step beyond mere rebellion into an act of desecration. It highlights the dangerous path of unchecked ambition and the destructive nature of wisdom devoid of moral restraint.