2 Samuel 15:16

16 The king went out with all his household {following him}, but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house.

2 Samuel 15:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 15:16

And the king went forth
Which determined the case:

and all his household after him family and his court;
they followed his example, and attended him in his flight:

and the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep the
house;
not to defend it, which they were unable to do, but to look after the household goods and furniture, that they were not damaged by the conspirators; though one would think they could be of little service, and may wonder what he should leave them behind for; but this seems to be ordered by the overruling providence of God, to bring about what was threatened him, ( 2 Samuel 12:11 ) ; and it is much he had not thought of it; but it was hid from his eyes, that it might be fulfilled.

2 Samuel 15:16 In-Context

14 Then David said to all his servants who [were] with him in Jerusalem, "Get up and let us flee, for there will be no escape for us from Absalom! Hurry to go, otherwise he will come quickly and overtake us! And he will bring disaster on us and evil! He will attack the city with the edge of the sword!"

15 Then the servants of the king said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king chooses, {your servants are ready to act}!"

16 The king went out with all his household {following him}, but the king left behind ten concubines to look after the house.

17 So the king went out with all the people {following him}, and they stopped {at the last house}.

18 All his servants [were] passing {by him}: all of the Kerethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites--six hundred men {who had followed him} from Gath--passing {before the king}.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "and"
• [b]. Literally "at his feet"