2 Samuel 20:3
WEB
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.
BSB
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.
KJV
¶ And 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 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H935
v — go, come
Derivation: a primitive root;
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
KJV: abide, apply, attain, × be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, × certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, × doubtless again, eat, employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, have, × indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, × (well) stricken (in age), × surely, take (in), way.
vb — come in
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
1. come in
2. come (approach, arrive)
3. go, i.e. walk, associate with
4. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
1. cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
2. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
a. be brought in (of pers. and things)
b. be brought
c. be introduced, put
H1732
n-pr-m — David
Derivation: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as 1730; loving;
David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV: David.
n.pr.m — David
דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David
H413
prep — near, with, among, to
Derivation: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
near, with or among; often in general, to
KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
prep — motion to
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1. of motion to or unto a person or place
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
3. Of direction towards anything
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
6. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
7. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
H1004
n-m — a house
Derivation: probably from 1129 abbreviated;
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
KJV: court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, × great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).
prep — between
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
n.m — house
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
1. house
2. place
3. receptacle
4. of house as containing a family
5. household, family (592 t.)
6. house, including household affairs
7. lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
8. מִבַּיִת
a. adv. on the inside
b. prep. within
H3389
n-pr-loc — Jerushalaim, Jerushalem
Derivation: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful;
Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
KJV: Jerusalem.
n.pr.loc — Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם 644 n.pr.loc. Jerusalem
H3947
v — take
Derivation: a primitive root;
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
KJV: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, × many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
vb — take
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
1. take, take in hand
2. take and carry along with oneself
3.
a. take from, or out of
b. take, carry away
c. take away from, so as to deprive of
d. esp. take away life
4. take to or for a person
5. take up, upon = put upon
6. = fetch
7. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
8. take = capture, seize
9. take = carry off
10. in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
1. be captured, of ark
2. be taken away, removed
3. be taken, brought unto
Pu.
1. be taken from, out of
2. = be stolen from
3. be taken captive
4. be taken away, removed
Hoph.
1. be taken, brought unto
2. be taken out of
3. be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
H4428
n-m — king
Derivation: from 4427;
a king
KJV: king, royal.
n.m — king
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H6235
n — ten
Derivation: masculine of term עֲשָׂרָה; from 6237;
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
KJV: ten, (fif-, seven-) teen.
n.m — ten
עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה 176 n.m. and f. ten
H802
n-f — woman
Derivation: feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as 582)
a woman
KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, × many, none, one, together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
n.f — woman
אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female
1. woman
2. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)
3. Female of animals
4. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one
H6370
n-f — concubine, paramour
Derivation: or פִּלֶגֶשׁ; of uncertain derivation;
a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour
KJV: concubine, paramour.
n.f — concubine
פִּלֶ֫גֶשׁ, פִּילֶ֫גֶשׁ 37 n.f. concubine
1. concubine
2. either = paramour, or < concubinage
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H3240
v — deposit, allow to stay
Derivation: a primitive root;
to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay
KJV: bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off), let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold. (The Hiphil forms with the dagesh are here referred to, in accordance with the older grammarians; but if any distinction of the kind is to be made, these should rather be referred to 5117, and the others here.)
vb — rest
נוּחַ vb. rest
Qal
1. rest, settle down and remain
2. repose, be quiet, have rest
Hiph.
A.
1. cause to rest = give rest to
2. cause to rest (i.e. light) upon
B.
1. lay or set down, deposit, let lie
2. let remain, leave (in present condition)
3. leave = depart from
4. abandon
5. let alone (refrain from interfering with)
6. permit
Hoph.
A. no rest is granted to us
B. as subst. = space left, open space
H8104
v — hedge, guard, protect, attend to
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
KJV: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
vb — keep
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
1.
a. keep, have charge of
b. keep, guard, captives
c. hence, watch for, wait for
d. watch, observe
2.
a. keep, retain, of storing up (food)
b. keep within bounds, restrain
3.
a. observe, celebrate
b. keep sabbath
c. of other obligations
d. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
4. sts. י׳ subj.
5. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph. 36
1. be on one's guard
2. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
3. be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
H5414
v — give, put, make
Derivation: a primitive root;
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, × avenge, × be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, × doubtless, × without fail, fasten, frame, × get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), × have, × indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), lie, lift up, make, O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, × pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), sing, slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, × surely, × take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, weep, willingly, withdraw, would (to) God, yield.
vb — give
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
1. give
2. Put, set
3. Make, constitute
Niph. 82
1. be given
2. Be put, set
Hoph.
1.
a. be given, bestowed
b. = be given to one for wife
2. be put upon
H4931
n-f — watch, custody, sentry, post, preservation, safe, observance, duty, a usage, party
Derivation: feminine of 4929;
watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively preservation, or (concretely) safe; figuratively observance, i.e. (abstractly) duty or (objectively) a usage or party
KJV: charge, keep, or to be kept, office, ordinace, safeguard, ward, watch.
n.f — guard
מִשְׁמֶ֫רֶת 78 n.f. guard, watch, also charge, function
H3557
v — keep in, measure, maintain
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses)
KJV: (be able to, can) abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide, hold(-ing in), nourish(-er), be present, make provision, receive, sustain, provide sustenance (victuals).
vb — comprehend
[כּוּל] vb. comprehend, contain
Qal who hath comprehended the dust of the earth in a shalish-measure
Pilp. sustain, maintain, contain
Polp. were supplied with food
Hiph. contain, hold, hold in, endure
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H1961
v — exist, be, become, come to pass
Derivation: a primitive root (compare 1933);
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
KJV: beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
vb — fall out
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
I.
1.
a. Fall out, happen
b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
2. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
a.
(1). וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
(2). rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
b. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
II. Come into being, become
1.
a. abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
b. sq. prep.
2. become
a. sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
b. sq. pred. adj.
c. become like
d. sq. pred. לְ pers.
e. sq. לְ pred.
f. oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
g. with עַל and לְ
h. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
III. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
1. exist, be in existence
2. abide, remain, continue
3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
4. as copula, joining subj. & pred.
5. periphrastic conjug.
Niph.
1. either be done, be brought about, or occur, come to pass
2. be done, finished, gone
H6887
v — cramp
Derivation: a primitive root;
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
KJV: adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.
vb — confine
צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege
vb. denom — suffer distress
[צָרַר] vb. denom. Hiph. suffer distress
vb — bind
צָרַר vb. bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped
A. trans.
Qal bind or tie up
Pu. tied up (mended by tying)
B. intrans.
Qal be scant, cramped, in straits
Hiph. make narrow for, press hard upon, cause distress to
vb — shew hostility toward
צָרַר vb. shew hostility toward, vex
H5704
prep — as far, long, much, as, even unto, during, while, until, equally with
Derivation: properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition);
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ( as) yet.
prep — as far as
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
I. prep.
1. of space
2. Of time
3. Of degree
II. conj.
1. until
2. While
3. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
III. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
1. of space
2. Of time
3. Of degree
H3117
n-m — day
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be hot;
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV: age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.
n.m — day
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
1. day, opp. night
2. Day as division of time
3. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
4. Pl. days of anyone
5. Days
6. יוֹם = time
7. Phrases
H4194
n-m — death, dead, pestilence, ruin
Derivation: from 4191;
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
KJV: (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d).
n.m — death
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
1. death, opp. life
2. death by violence
3. state of death or place of death
H491
n-f — widow, widowhood
Derivation: feminine of 488;
concrete, a widow; abstract, widowhood
KJV: widow, widowhood.
n.f — widowhood
[אַלְמָנוּת] n.f. widowhood
H2424
n-f — life
Derivation: from 2421;
life
KJV: × living.
n.f.abstr — living widows
חַיּוּת n.f.abstr. 2 S 20:3, lit. ‘widowhood of livingness’; living widows
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Verses 1–3
2 Samuel 20:1–3
David, in the midst of his triumphs, has here the affliction to see his kingdom disturbed and his family disgraced.
I. His subjects revolting from him at the instigation of a man of Belial, whom they followed when they forsook the man after God's own heart. Observe, 1. That this happened immediately upon the crushing of Absalom's rebellion. We must not think it strange, while we are in this world, if the end of one trouble be the beginning of another: deep sometimes calls unto deep. 2. That the people were now just returning to their allegiance, when, of a sudden, they flew off from it. When a reconciliation is newly made, it ought to be handled with great tenderness and caution, lest the peace break again before it be settled. A broken bone, when it is set, must have time to knot. 3. That the ring-leader of this rebellion was Sheba, a Benjamite by birth (Sa2 20:1), who had his habitation in Mount Ephraim, Sa2 20:21. Shimei and he were both of Saul's tribe, and both retained the ancient grudge of that house. Against the kingdom of the Messiah there is an hereditary enmity in the serpent's seed, and a succession of attempts to overthrow it (Psa 2:1, Psa 2:2); but he that sits in heaven laughs at them all. 4. That the occasion of it was that foolish quarrel, which we read of in the close of the foregoing chapter, between the elders of Israel and the elders of Judah, about bringing the king back. It was a point of honour that was disputed between them, which had most interest in David. "We are more numerous," say the elders of Israel. "We are nearer akin to him," say the elders of Judah. Now one would think David very safe and happy when his subjects are striving which shall love him best, and be most forward to show him respect; yet even that strife proves the occasion of a rebellion. The men of Israel complained to David of the slight which the men of Judah had put upon them. If he had now countenanced their complaint, commended their zeal, and returned them thanks for it, he might have confirmed them in his interest; but he seemed partial to his own tribe: Their words prevailed above the words of the men of Israel; as some read the last words of the foregoing chapter. David inclined to justify them, and, when the men of Israel perceived this, they flew off with indignation. "If the king will suffer himself to be engrossed by the men of Judah, let him and them make their best of one another, and we will set up one for ourselves. We thought we had ten parts in David, but such an interest will not be allowed us; the men of Judah tell us, in effect, we have no part in him, and therefore we will have none, nor will we attend him any further in his return to Jerusalem, nor own him for our king." This was proclaimed by Sheba (Sa2 20:1), who probably was a man of note, and had been active in Absalom's rebellion; the disgusted Israelites took the hint, and went up from after David to follow Sheba (Sa2 20:2), that is, the generality of them did so, only the men of Judah adhered to him. Learn hence, (1.) That it is as impolitic for princes to be partial in their attentions to their subjects as it is for parents to be so to their children; both should carry it with an even hand. (2.) Those know not what they do that make light of the affections of their inferiors, by not countenancing and accepting it. Their hatred may be feared whose love is despised. (3.) The beginning of strife is as the letting forth of water; it is therefore wisdom to leave it off before it be meddled with, Pro 17:14. How great a matter doth a little of this fire kindle! (4.) The perverting of words is the subverting of peace; and much mischief is made by forcing invidious constructions upon what is said and written and drawing consequences that were never intended. The men of Judah said, The king is near of kin to us. "By this," say the men of Israel, "you mean that we have no part in him;" whereas they meant no such thing. (5.) People are very apt to run into extremes. We have ten parts in David, said they; and, almost in the next breath, We have no part in him. Today Hosanna, tomorrow Crucify.
II. His concubines imprisoned for life, and he himself under a necessity of putting them in confinement, because they had been defiled by Absalom, Sa2 20:3. David had multiplied wives, contrary to the law and they proved a grief and shame to him. Those whom he had sinfully taken pleasure in he was now, 1. Obliged, in duty, to put away, they being rendered unclean to him by the vile uncleanness his son had committed with them. Those whom he had loved must now be loathed. 2. Obliged, in prudence, to shut up in privacy, not to be seen abroad for shame, lest the sight of them should give occasion to people to speak of what Absalom had done to them, which ought not to be so much as named, Co1 5:1. That that villany might be buried in obscurity. 3. Obliged, in justice to shut up in prison, to punish them for their easy submission to Absalom's lust, despairing perhaps of David's return, and giving him up for gone. Let none expect to do ill and fare well.
Cross-references: 2Sam 20:1 · 2Sam 20:21 · Ps 2:1 · Ps 2:2 · 2Sam 20:2 · Prov 17:14 · 2Sam 20:3 · 1Cor 5:1