Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Chinese NCV (Simplified)

撒母耳记下 16:21

亞希多弗對押沙龍說:“你去與你父親留下來看守王宮的那些妃嬪親近,這樣以色列眾人聽見你與你父親已經完全決裂,所有跟隨你的人的手就都更堅強了。”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahithophel;   Incest;   Reverence;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Concubine;   Easton Bible Dictionary - King;   Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abner;   House;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel;   Crimes and Punishments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Inheritance;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Dance;   Jerusalem;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahith'ophel;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abhor;   Heir;   King;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahithophel;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bilhah;   Incest;   Inheritance;   King;  

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
亚 希 多 弗 对 押 沙 龙 说 : 你 父 所 留 下 看 守 宫 殿 的 妃 嫔 , 你 可 以 与 他 们 亲 近 。 以 色 列 众 人 听 见 你 父 亲 憎 恶 你 , 凡 归 顺 你 人 的 手 就 更 坚 强 。

Contextual Overview

15 Meanwhile, Absalom, Ahithophel, and all the Israelites arrived at Jerusalem. 16 David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 17 Absalom asked, "Why are you not loyal to your friend David? Why didn't you leave Jerusalem with your friend?" 18 Hushai said, "I belong to the one chosen by the Lord and by these people and everyone in Israel. I will stay with you. 19 In the past I served your father. So whom should I serve now? David's son! I will serve you as I served him." 20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Tell us what we should do." 21 Ahithophel said, "Your father left behind some of his slave women to take care of the palace. Have sexual relations with them. Then all Israel will hear that your father is your enemy, and all your people will be encouraged to give you more support." 22 So they put up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace where everyone in Israel could see it. And Absalom had sexual relations with his father's slave women. 23 At that time people thought Ahithophel's advice was as reliable as God's own word. Both David and Absalom thought it was that reliable.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Go in: Genesis 6:4, Genesis 38:16

unto thy: 2 Samuel 12:11, 2 Samuel 15:16, 2 Samuel 20:3, Genesis 35:22, Leviticus 18:8, Leviticus 20:11, 1 Kings 2:17, 1 Kings 2:22, 1 Corinthians 5:1

abhorred: Genesis 34:30, 1 Samuel 13:4

thy father: Genesis 49:3, Genesis 49:4

then shall: 1 Samuel 27:12

the hands: 2 Samuel 2:7, Zechariah 8:13

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:7 - gone in 2 Samuel 13:5 - Lay thee 1 Kings 2:21 - Let Abishag 1 Kings 11:25 - abhorred Esther 2:4 - the thing Esther 5:14 - the thing Psalms 55:10 - mischief Psalms 71:4 - out of the Proverbs 6:29 - he that Jeremiah 4:22 - they are wise Ezekiel 22:10 - discovered Micah 7:6 - son

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom,.... Either immediately of himself, without consulting with others; or after a consultation had been held between them, he as the president of it, and their mouth, gave the following advice; though the former seems most correct:

go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left, to keep the house; and lie with them; there were ten of them, 2 Samuel 15:16;

and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father; this fact will be so abominable to him, and he will so highly resent it, as never to forgive thee, and be reconciled unto thee:

then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong; he intimates that they were now weak, and did not act with spirit; they were fearful that David and Absalom would be reconciled, and then they should be reckoned traitors, and fall a sacrifice to David's vengeance, for their treason against him: but by Absalom's taking such a step as this, which would make him for ever the object of his father's hatred, their hands and hearts would be strengthened, and their fears removed, and they would not have the least jealousy of a reconciliation between them, and of their being left to the resentment of David. Some think this was not his only reason for giving this counsel, but also to revenge David's abuse of Bathsheba, his son's daughter, as she is supposed to be, 2 Samuel 15:16- :; however, it was so ordered in Providence, that this advice should be given and taken, to fulfil the prophecy of the Lord to Nathan, 2 Samuel 12:11.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Taking 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 which he had meted withal.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 16:21. Go 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.

The wives of the conquered king were always the property of the conqueror; and in possessing these, he appeared to possess the right to the kingdom. Herodotus informs us that Smerdis, having seized on the Persian throne after the death of Cambyses, espoused all the wives of his predecessor, lib. iii., c. 68. But for a son to take his father's wives was the sum of abomination, and was death by the law of God, Leviticus 20:11. This was a sin rarely found, even among the Gentiles.

Every part of the conduct of Absalom shows him to have been a most profligate young man; he was proud, vindictive, adulterous, incestuous, a parricide, and, in fine, reprobate to every good word and work. We still however recollect that David had grievously sinned, and we should also recollect that he suffered grievously for it; and that his humiliation, repentance, and amendment, were most decisive and exemplary. Reader, God is as just as he is merciful.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile