2 Samuel 16:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father 's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NIV: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NASB: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

CSB: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NLT: So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.

KJV: So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NKJV: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Ahithophel, David's former counselor, is giving helpful advice to Absalom, David's rebellious son. His suggestion is that Absalom publicly have sex with David's concubines. This will make it clear to everyone in the kingdom that he claims David's kingship for himself. Absalom agrees, and a tent is set up on the roof of David's house. Everyone watching will see Absalom and David's concubines enter that tent together and fully understand what is happening (2 Samuel 16:20–21).

Absalom's act of sleeping with David's concubines is the direct fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy about God's judgment for David's sin:

"Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'"-–2 Samuel 12:11–12

Even though God prophesied this, and ordained it, Absalom is still guilty for his sin. He chooses to rebel against his father. He chooses to turn much of the nation against God's anointed king. He chooses to power-rape David's concubines. God uses Absalom's sinful nature as part of His plan to chastise David, but Absalom is still responsible for what he does.

His act essentially signs his own death warrant. God's curses against David are complete. God has no more use for Absalom. Despite Ahithophel's wise advice, Absalom will continue his string of unwise choices until he's killed (2 Samuel 18:14–15).

God can use foolish people for His good. That doesn't mean foolish people used by God are necessarily good.

Second Samuel 16:20–23 explains how Absalom fulfills one of God's curses on David. Because David secretly took Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, God promised that another would take David's wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11). When David fled Jerusalem, he took his servants but left ten concubines to care for the house (2 Samuel 15:16). On Ahithophel's advice, Absalom has sex with the concubines in a tent on David's roof, an act of dominance over his father. After Absalom is killed and David returns, David will put the women in a house under protective guard for the rest of their lives (2 Samuel 20:3).

David flees and Absalom takes Jerusalem. Absalom arrives with his supporters while David and his servants race to the Jordan River (2 Samuel 15). Mephibosheth's servant Ziba brings David donkeys, provisions, and news that Mephibosheth has also betrayed David. Shimei, Saul's relative, throws stones and curses at David and his people. David's former counselor Ahithophel convinces Absalom to have sex with David's concubines. But David's friend Hushai has infiltrated Absalom's council and will prove to be an exceptionally good spy (2 Samuel 17:1–22).

In 2 Samuel 16, leadership in Jerusalem changes hands. Because of David's sin (2 Samuel 11), God predicts death and controversy in David's life. That starts with assault and murder within David's own family (2 Samuel 12—14). The murderer, David's son Absalom, took four years to gain the people's trust and declare himself king (2 Samuel 15:1–11). He won over David's counselor, but David has his servants, warriors, two priests, and an old friend: the last three stay as spies (2 Samuel 15:13–37). As Absalom takes the throne, David meets two Benjamites: one helpful and one horrible. Soon, Absalom will plan an attack, but the priests and David's friend send word and save David's people (2 Samuel 17:1–22).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.