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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the king {H4428} went forth {H3318}, and all his household {H1004} after {H7272} him. And the king {H4428} left {H5800} ten {H6235} women {H802}, which were concubines {H6370}, to keep {H8104} the house {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the king set out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women who were concubines to care for the palace.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

American Standard Version

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 15:16 details King David's hasty departure from Jerusalem in response to Absalom's rebellion, a pivotal moment of crisis in his reign. As David and his loyal entourage evacuate the capital, he makes the deliberate decision to leave behind ten of his concubines, entrusting them with the care of the royal palace. This act, born of necessity during a desperate flight, inadvertently sets the stage for a profound public humiliation and a symbolic usurpation of David's authority, fulfilling earlier prophetic pronouncements regarding the consequences of his sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the dramatic climax of Absalom's meticulously planned rebellion against his father, King David. Immediately preceding this, Absalom has successfully swayed the hearts of Israel, forcing David into a sudden and desperate flight from Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:13-14). The narrative emphasizes the urgency and chaos of David's departure, highlighting his vulnerability and the swiftness of Absalom's coup. David's decision to leave the concubines is a practical measure within this chaotic retreat, yet it carries immense symbolic weight, directly preceding Absalom's public appropriation of them in [2 Samuel 16:20-22](/2_samuel/16-20 "2 Samuel 16:20-22 - Absalom's Public Act of Usurpation"), which serves as a stark demonstration of his claim to the throne and a fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy in [2 Samuel 12:11](/2_samuel/12-11 "2 Samuel 12:11 - Nathan's Prophecy of Calamity").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, a king's concubines were considered part of his royal property and household, their presence signifying his wealth, power, and legitimacy. While distinct from primary wives, they were not mere servants; they often bore children who could, in some cases, inherit. The act of a usurper taking possession of the previous king's concubines was a widely recognized and potent symbolic gesture of claiming the throne, asserting dominance, and publicly humiliating the deposed monarch. This was not merely a sexual act but a political declaration, demonstrating the new ruler's absolute authority and the complete subjugation of the former king's household. David's decision to leave them behind, rather than take them on a perilous journey, reflects both the logistical challenges of his flight and perhaps an attempt to maintain some semblance of royal order in the abandoned palace, however futile.
* **Key Themes:** The events surrounding David's flight and the fate of the concubines contribute to several overarching themes in the book of [2 Samuel](/2_samuel/1 "2 Samuel - The Reign of King David"). Firstly, it underscores the **fragility of human power and authority**, even for a divinely appointed king like David. His rapid dethronement by his own son highlights the unpredictable nature of earthly kingdoms. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates the **consequences of sin**, particularly in the context of David's past transgressions with Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan's prophecy in [2 Samuel 12:11](/2_samuel/12-11 "2 Samuel 12:11 - Nathan's Prophecy of Calamity") explicitly foretold that calamity would arise from David's own household, and Absalom's public defilement of the concubines is a direct, horrifying fulfillment of this divine judgment. Thirdly, the narrative explores the **complexities of family dynamics** within a royal context, showcasing betrayal, ambition, and the deep personal cost of political upheaval.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Concubines (Hebrew, _pilagshim'_):** This term refers to secondary wives, often of lower social standing than primary wives, but still legally recognized members of the king's household. They were distinct from slaves or prostitutes, and their children could have certain inheritance rights. In the ancient Near East, a king's concubines were integral to his royal status and a symbol of his power and virility. The appropriation of a king's concubines by a successor or usurper was a common and highly symbolic act, signifying the complete transfer of authority and the public humiliation of the former ruler.
* **Left (Hebrew, _'azav'_):** The verb "left" implies a deliberate act of abandonment or entrustment. It is not merely that they were forgotten, but David consciously chose to leave them behind. This decision, while perhaps pragmatic for the hasty flight, carries a tragic irony, as it exposes them to the very humiliation that David sought to avoid for his household, and indeed, brings about a direct fulfillment of divine judgment. The word can also imply "forsake" or "relinquish," underscoring the gravity of David's situation and the hard choices he was forced to make.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the king went forth, and all his household after him."**: This clause emphasizes the immediate and comprehensive nature of David's flight. "The king" refers to David, the reigning monarch of Israel, whose authority is now under direct threat. "Went forth" signifies a departure, an exodus from his capital. The inclusion of "all his household after him" highlights the loyalty of his immediate family and retainers who chose to accompany him into exile, underscoring the deep division within his kingdom and family, as Absalom's faction remained in Jerusalem.
* **"And the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep the house."**: This second clause details a specific and significant action taken by David during his departure. The "ten women" are explicitly identified as "concubines," emphasizing their status within the royal household. David's decision to "leave" them implies a strategic choice, possibly to lighten his traveling party, or, more symbolically, to maintain a presence in the palace – to "keep the house" – even as he fled. This act, however, becomes a tragic setup for Absalom's later public defilement of them, transforming David's attempt to preserve his household into the very instrument of its public shame and the fulfillment of prophecy.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as David's act of leaving the concubines "to keep the house" (perhaps hoping to preserve some semblance of his royal presence or property) inadvertently facilitates their public defilement by Absalom, directly fulfilling Nathan's prophecy of calamity arising from David's own house. This creates a tragic sense of **Foreshadowing**, as the reader, familiar with the broader narrative, understands that this seemingly practical decision will lead to a profound public humiliation for David. The concubines themselves function as **Symbols** of David's royal authority and status; their public appropriation by Absalom is a powerful, non-verbal declaration of his usurpation of the throne. The swift, almost terse description of David's departure also contributes to the dramatic tension, highlighting the sudden and desperate nature of his flight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, though brief, is profoundly significant in the unfolding narrative of David's life and the theological themes of 2 Samuel. It serves as a stark reminder that even God's chosen king is not immune to the consequences of sin and the fragility of earthly power. David's hurried flight and the abandonment of his concubines are direct outworkings of the divine judgment prophesied by Nathan in [2 Samuel 12:11](/2_samuel/12-11 "2 Samuel 12:11 - Nathan's Prophecy of Calamity"), where God declared that calamity would arise from David's own household. This highlights God's sovereign hand in history, even amidst human rebellion and suffering, demonstrating that His word will be fulfilled. The vulnerability of the concubines also underscores the broader theme of the innocent suffering in the wake of leadership's failures, a recurring motif in biblical narratives.

* [2 Samuel 12:11](/2_samuel/12-11 "Nathan's Prophecy of Calamity Against David's House")
* [2 Samuel 16:20-22](/2_samuel/16-20 "Absalom's Public Usurpation of David's Concubines")
* [Deuteronomy 28:30](/deuteronomy/28-30 "Consequences of Disobedience: Another Man Lying with Your Wife")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene of David's desperate flight, leaving behind those who were part of his intimate household, offers a poignant reflection on the unpredictable nature of life and the far-reaching consequences of our choices. It reminds us that even those in positions of immense power and divine favor are susceptible to profound betrayal, personal crisis, and the bitter fruits of past transgressions. David's experience underscores the truth that earthly security, status, and comfort are ultimately fleeting; what seems stable today can be utterly overturned tomorrow. This narrative challenges us to consider where we place our ultimate trust and security – in transient earthly positions or in the unchanging character of God. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the ripple effect of sin, illustrating how individual moral failures can lead to widespread suffering, affecting not only the perpetrator but also their household and even an entire nation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's desperate flight challenge your assumptions about the stability of power and earthly security?**
* **In what ways do you see the consequences of past decisions, both personal and communal, playing out in your own life or in society today?**
* **What does the vulnerability of the concubines, caught in a larger conflict, teach us about compassion for those affected by the actions of others?**
* **How might this passage encourage us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be inadvertently setting the stage for future difficulties?**

### FAQ
**Why did David leave the concubines instead of taking them with him?**

Answer: David's decision was likely a combination of practical necessity and symbolic intent. From a practical standpoint, a hasty flight with a large entourage, including many women, would have been logistically challenging and slowed their escape. Leaving them behind would have allowed for a swifter departure. Symbolically, by leaving them "to keep the house," David may have hoped to maintain some semblance of ownership or a placeholder for his return, signaling that the palace was still his, even in his absence. However, this act tragically backfired, as it facilitated Absalom's public appropriation of them, a highly symbolic act of usurpation that solidified his claim to the throne and humiliated David. This act also fulfilled Nathan's prophecy in [2 Samuel 12:11](/2_samuel/12-11 "2 Samuel 12:11 - Nathan's Prophecy of Calamity") that calamity would arise from David's own household.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Samuel 15:16 depicts the tragic vulnerability of an earthly king and the bitter consequences of sin, it ultimately points us to the perfect, eternal King, Jesus Christ. David's flight from his throne, his abandonment of a portion of his household, and the subsequent public humiliation foreshadow the ultimate suffering and apparent defeat of the true Son of David. Yet, unlike David, whose kingship was marred by sin and whose authority was temporarily usurped, Christ's abandonment was a voluntary act of self-sacrifice for the redemption of His people. He was "left" by His disciples (cf. [Matthew 26:56](/matthew/26-56 "Matthew 26:56 - Disciples Flee")) and experienced the ultimate public humiliation of the cross (cf. [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humiliation and Obedience")), not as a consequence of His own sin, but as the sinless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). David's concubines were left vulnerable to a usurper, but Christ, in His suffering, ensured the ultimate security and eternal inheritance for His bride, the Church (cf. [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church as His Bride")). His temporary "abandonment" on the cross led not to permanent dethronement, but to His glorious resurrection and eternal reign, where He now sits at the [right hand of God](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Seated at God's Right Hand"), a King whose kingdom is truly unshakable (cf. [Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 16:21

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 16:22

So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 Samuel 20:3

And 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.

Psalms 3:1

¶ A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many [are] they that rise up against me.

Romans 12:2

And 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 Samuel 25:42

And 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.

2 Samuel 12:11

Thus 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.