New American Standard Bible 2020
2 Samuel 16:21
21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “1Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”
2 Samuel 16:21 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.”
- English Standard Version (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."
- New King James Version (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.”
Context of 2 Samuel 16:21
19Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.” 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
Read all of 2 Samuel 162 Samuel 16:21 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם בּ֚וֹא אֶל־פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנִּ֖יחַ לִשְׁמ֣וֹר הַבָּ֑יִת וְשָׁמַ֤ע כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־נִבְאַ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת־אָבִ֔יךָ וְחָ֣זְק֔וּ יְדֵ֖י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
- Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל'ăchîythôphel · AhithophelH302
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- Haveבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- your father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- concubinesפִּלֶ֫גֶשׁpîylegesh pilegesh · concubineH6370
- whomאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- he has leftנוּחַnûach · to restH5117
- to takeשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
- of the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- then allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- will hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- that you have madeבָּאַשׁbâ'ash · to stinkH887
- The handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- are with you will also be strengthenedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:21
- Genesis 6:4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
- Genesis 38:16So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?”
- 2 Samuel 12:11This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.
- 2 Samuel 15:16So the king left, and all his household with him; but the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house.
- 2 Samuel 20:3Then David came to his house in Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the house, and put them in custody and provided them with food, but did not have relations with them. So they were locked up until the day of their death, living as widows.
- Genesis 35:22And it came about, while Israel was living in that land, that Reuben went and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob--
- Leviticus 18:8You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.
- Leviticus 20:11If there is a man who sleeps with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them must be put to death, they have brought their own deaths upon themselves.
- 1 Kings 2:17Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king--for he will not refuse you--that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”
- 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife.
- Genesis 34:30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me repulsive among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since my men are few in number, they will band together against me and attack me, and I will be destroyed, I and my household!”
- 1 Samuel 13:4And all Israel heard the news that Saul had attacked the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become repulsive to the Philistines. Then the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
- Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
- 1 Samuel 27:12So Achish believed David, saying, “He has undoubtedly made himself repulsive among his people Israel; therefore he will become my servant forever.”
- 2 Samuel 2:7Now then, let your hands be strong and be valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- Zechariah 8:13And it will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Go in unto thy father's concubines - It may be remembered that David left ten of them behind to take care of the house, see 2 Samuel 15:16. Ahithophel advised this infernal measure, in order to prevent the possibility of a reconciliation between David and his son; thus was the prophecy to Nathan fulfilled, 2 Samuel 12:11. And this was probably transacted in the very same place where David's eye took the adulterous view of Bath-sheba; see 2 Samuel 11:2…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Taking possession of the harem was the most decided act of sovereignty (see 1 Kings 2:22). It was also the greatest offence and insult that could be offered. Such an act on Absalom‘s part made reconciliation impossible. A further motive has been found in this advice, namely, the desire on the part of Ahithophel to make David taste the bitterness of that cup which he had caused others (Uriah and all Bath-sheba‘s family) to drink, and receive the measure…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Sleep with your father's concubines: A usurper (someone who takes power by force) would take a previous ruler's harem to strengthen his claim to the throne (see 2 Samuel 3:7). Absalom's action violated Deuteronomy 22:30.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Ahithophel said unto Absalom--This councillor saw that now the die was cast; half measures would be inexpedient. To cut off all possibility of reconciliation between the king and his rebellious son, he gave this atrocious advice regarding the treatment of the royal women who had been left in charge of the palace. Women, being held sacred, are generally left inviolate in the casualties of war. The history of the East affords only one parallel to this…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:21
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 2 Samuel 16:21 2 Sam 15:16; 20:3 ↩
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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