2 Samuel 16:21

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. ¹⁵ And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom, Ahithophel, and all the Israelites arrived at Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁵ And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵ Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵ Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁵ Forsothe Absolon, and al the puple of Israel entriden in to Jerusalem, but also Achitofel with hym.

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.