2 samuel 20:3 - 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 custody, and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
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What does "2 samuel 20:3" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 20:3 describes David's actions towards his ten concubines after Absalom's rebellion. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"David came to his house at Jerusalem;" This simply states that David returned to his palace in Jerusalem after quelling Absalom's uprising.
"and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody..." During Absalom's revolt, David fled Jerusalem, leaving these ten concubines behind to manage the royal household. When Absalom took control, he publicly slept with these women (2 Samuel 16:22). This act was a deliberate humiliation of David and a claim to the throne. Upon his return, David essentially placed these women under house arrest.
"...and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them." David continued to provide for their basic needs (food and shelter), but he refused to have sexual relations with them.
"So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood." The women were effectively confined to their quarters for the rest of their lives, treated as if they were widows even though David was still alive.
Interpretation and Significance:
Protecting/Punishing: David's actions were likely motivated by a combination of factors. On one hand, they may be interpreted as an effort to protect the women. Absalom's act had defiled them in the eyes of society. Returning to David's bed would be seen as a continuation of that defilement. By confining them, he prevented further scandal. On the other hand, his actions also can be seen as a form of punishment. They were victims of Absalom's actions, but being associated with the humiliation of the king carried its own consequences.
Royal Implications: Sex with a king's concubine was often seen as a claim to the throne. David might have wanted to ensure no one could use these women in a plot against him in the future.
Shame and Honor: In that culture, honor and shame were paramount. Absalom's actions deeply dishonored David and these women. David's response was an attempt to restore some semblance of order and control in a situation where his honor had been violated.
Complex Morality: The passage highlights the complex moral landscape of the Old Testament. While it describes David's actions, it does not necessarily endorse them. Readers are left to grapple with the consequences of Absalom's rebellion and David's response within the cultural and historical context.
In essence, the verse depicts a tragic situation where these women, victims of a political power play, were relegated to a life of isolation as a consequence of Absalom's actions and David's response. It reflects the harsh realities and complex moral issues surrounding power, honor, and sexuality in ancient Israel.
2 samuel 20:3 - 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 custody, and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
What does "2 samuel 20:3" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 20:3 describes David's actions towards his ten concubines after Absalom's rebellion. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"David came to his house at Jerusalem;" This simply states that David returned to his palace in Jerusalem after quelling Absalom's uprising.
"and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody..." During Absalom's revolt, David fled Jerusalem, leaving these ten concubines behind to manage the royal household. When Absalom took control, he publicly slept with these women (2 Samuel 16:22). This act was a deliberate humiliation of David and a claim to the throne. Upon his return, David essentially placed these women under house arrest.
"...and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them." David continued to provide for their basic needs (food and shelter), but he refused to have sexual relations with them.
"So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood." The women were effectively confined to their quarters for the rest of their lives, treated as if they were widows even though David was still alive.
Interpretation and Significance:
Protecting/Punishing: David's actions were likely motivated by a combination of factors. On one hand, they may be interpreted as an effort to protect the women. Absalom's act had defiled them in the eyes of society. Returning to David's bed would be seen as a continuation of that defilement. By confining them, he prevented further scandal. On the other hand, his actions also can be seen as a form of punishment. They were victims of Absalom's actions, but being associated with the humiliation of the king carried its own consequences.
Royal Implications: Sex with a king's concubine was often seen as a claim to the throne. David might have wanted to ensure no one could use these women in a plot against him in the future.
Shame and Honor: In that culture, honor and shame were paramount. Absalom's actions deeply dishonored David and these women. David's response was an attempt to restore some semblance of order and control in a situation where his honor had been violated.
Complex Morality: The passage highlights the complex moral landscape of the Old Testament. While it describes David's actions, it does not necessarily endorse them. Readers are left to grapple with the consequences of Absalom's rebellion and David's response within the cultural and historical context.
In essence, the verse depicts a tragic situation where these women, victims of a political power play, were relegated to a life of isolation as a consequence of Absalom's actions and David's response. It reflects the harsh realities and complex moral issues surrounding power, honor, and sexuality in ancient Israel.