And David came to his house at Jerusalem,.... His palace there, which was in that part of the city called the fort of Zion, and city of David:and the king took the ten women [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep the house; when he fled from Jerusalem because of Absalom, 2Sa 15:16;and put them in ward; partly as a punishment for easily yielding to the lust of Absalom, and partly that they might not be seen, which would bring to remembrance his sin:and fed them; he did not put them to death, nor put them away, but kept them thus confined, and made a proper provision for them, not suffering them to marry any other, and be maintained by them:but went not in unto them: into their apartments to lie with them, having been defiled by his son, 2Sa 16:22;so they were shut up unto the day of their death; kept in the ward till they died:living in widowhood; neither used by the king as his concubines, as they had been before, nor suffered to many any other; or "in the widowhood of life" , which is so expressed, to distinguish it from widowhood made by death; this was such sort of widowhood as obtained while their husband was living; so the Targum,"widows of their husband alive,''or remaining.
Bible Commentary
2 Samuel 20:3
2 Samuel 20:3
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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2 Samuel 20 — Overview2 Samuel 20 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHow do the clouds return after the rain! No sooner is one of David's
troubles over than another arises, as it were out of the ashes of the
former, wherein the threatening is fulfilled, that the sword should…2 Samuel 20 — Overview2 Samuel 20 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge2 Samuel 20:1, By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba makes a party in Israel; 2 Samuel 20:3, David’s ten concubines are put in confinement for life; 2 Samuel 20:4, Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab; 2 Samuel…2 Samuel 20 — Overview2 Samuel 20 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter gives an account of a new rebellion raised by Sheba, 2Sa 20:1; of David's shutting up his concubines unto the day of their death, whom Absalom had lain with, 2Sa 20:3; of Amasa being ordered to assemble the…2 Samuel 20:1-32 Samuel 20:1-3 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleDavid, 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…2 Samuel 20:32 Samuel 20:3 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgeten women: 2 Samuel 15:16, 2 Samuel 16:21-22
and put: The confinement and retired maintenance of these women was the only measure which in justice and prudence could be adopted. In China, when an emperor dies, all his…