2 Samuel 16:21

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Enter thou [in] to the concubines of thy father, which he left to keep the house; that when all Israel heareth, that thou hast defouled thy father's bed, the hands of them be strengthened with thee. (And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Enter thou in to thy father's concubines, whom he left in charge of the palace; and when all Israel heareth, that thou hast defiled thy father's bed, the hands of them who be with thee shall be strengthened.)

2 Samuel 16:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:21

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, (See Gill on 2 Samuel 15:12); 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 ) .

2 Samuel 16:21 In-Context

19 But that I say also this, to whom shall I serve? whether not to the son of the king? as I obeyed to thy father, so I shall obey to thee.

20 And Absalom said to Ahithophel, Take ye counsel (Give ye advice to me), what we ought to do.

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Enter thou [in] to the concubines of thy father, which he left to keep the house; that when all Israel heareth, that thou hast defouled thy father's bed, the hands of them be strengthened with thee. (And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Enter thou in to thy father's concubines, whom he left in charge of the palace; and when all Israel heareth, that thou hast defiled thy father's bed, the hands of them who be with thee shall be strengthened.)

22 Therefore they stretched out (for) Absalom a tabernacle in the solar, and he entered [in] to the concubines of his father before all Israel. (And so they stretched out a tent on the roof for Absalom, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.)

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had counselled with God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both when he was with David, and when he was with Absalom.