2 Samuel 15:16
in 2 Samuel 15Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.
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.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 15
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Arise and let us flee
on 2 Samuel 15:14-17
David decides at once, “Arise and let us flee”, before Absalom can “put the city to the sword”. He leaves ten concubines to keep the palace, a detail that returns at 16:22. The reigning king goes out with his household as an exile among his own people.
This site's exposition
he left behind ten concubines
Nathan had foretold at 12:11 that another man would take David's wives in broad daylight. Leaving the concubines in the palace puts them in the path of that word. David meant only that they keep the house.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Hebron - This place he chose as being an eminent city, and next to Jerusalem, the chief of the tribe of Judah, and the place where his father began his kingdom, which he took for a good omen. And where it is probable he had secured many friends. It was also at a convenient distance from Jerusalem.
And the king went forth,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Far away. [Targum Yonasan translates:] "in a far away place."
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּצֵ֥א | vaiyetze' | and he went out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| בֵּית֖וֹ | beito | household his | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| בְּרַגְלָ֑יו | beraglav | at feet his | H7272 → | 247 times |
| וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב | vaiyaazo | and he left | H5800 → | |
| הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| אֵ֣ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עֶ֧שֶׂר | ʾeser | ten | H6235 → | 176 times |
| נָשִׁ֛ים | nashim | women | H802 → | 781 times |
| פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים | pilagshim | concubines | H6370 → | 37 times |
| לִשְׁמֹ֥ר | lishmor | to keep | H8104 → | 468 times |
| הַבָּֽיִת׃ | habayit | the house | H1004 → | 2046 times |
וַיֵּצֵ֥אand he went out
vaiyetze'H3318 →1067 times
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
בֵּית֖וֹhousehold his
beitoH1004 →2046 times
בְּרַגְלָ֑יוat feet his
beraglavH7272 →247 times
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣בand he left
vaiyaazoH5800 →
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
אֵ֣ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
עֶ֧שֶׂרten
ʾeserH6235 →176 times
נָשִׁ֛יםwomen
nashimH802 →781 times
פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖יםconcubines
pilagshimH6370 →37 times
לִשְׁמֹ֥רto keep
lishmorH8104 →468 times
הַבָּֽיִת׃the house
habayitH1004 →2046 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
- Ephesians 4:22–24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- 1 John 2:15–17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 Peter 1:14
Through
Psalms 3:1O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
it leads to
- Psalms 17:7
Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
- 2 Samuel 17:11–13
Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.
- Psalms 17:7
Through
2 Samuel 20:3When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them,…
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 16:21–22
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who…
- 2 Samuel 16:21–22
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Samuel
This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and W. G. Blaikie, The Second Book of Samuel (Expositor's Bible).