2 Samuel 15:16
New International Version
The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace.

New Living Translation
So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.

English Standard Version
So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

Berean Literal Bible
And the king went out, and all his household at his feet, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

King James Bible
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

New King James Version
Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

New American Standard Bible
So the king left, and all his household with him; but the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house.

NASB 1995
So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

NASB 1977
So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

Amplified Bible
So the king left, and all his household with him. But the king left behind ten women who were concubines to take care of the house (palace).

Berean Annotated Bible
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind 10 concubines to take care of the palace.

American Standard Version
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

English Revised Version
And the king went forth, and all his household after him, And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king left on foot, and his whole household followed him except ten concubines whom the king left behind to take care of the palace.

Good News Translation
So the king left, accompanied by all his family and officials, except for ten concubines, whom he left behind to take care of the palace.

International Standard Version
So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses, who were to keep the palace in order.

NET Bible
So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace.

New Heart English Bible
And the king went out with all his household following him. But the king left ten women, who were secondary wives, to take care of the palace.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep the house.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

World English Bible
The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king goes out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaves ten women—concubines—to keep the house.

Berean Literal Bible
And the king went out, and all his household at his feet, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women -- concubines -- to keep the house.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will go forth, and all his house at his feet. And the king will leave ten women, concubines, to watch the house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king went forth, and all his household on foot: and the king left ten women his concubines to keep the house:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, the king departed, with his entire household on foot. And the king left behind ten women of the concubines to care for the house.

New American Bible
Then the king set out, accompanied by his entire household, except for ten concubines whom he left behind to care for the palace.

New Revised Standard Version
So the king left, followed by all his household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the king went forth and all his household after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep his house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King went out and all the children of his house at his feet, and the King left ten women of the Concubines to keep his house
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king and all his house went out on foot: and the king left ten women of his concubines to keep the house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Flees Jerusalem
15The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.” 16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,…

Cross References
Then the king set out,

2 Kings 25:4-5
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.

Jeremiah 39:4
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and they went out along the route to the Arabah.

2 Kings 24:12
Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.
and his entire household followed him.

Genesis 31:17-18
Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels, / and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

Genesis 46:5-7
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives. / They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. / Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
But he left behind ten concubines

2 Samuel 16:21-22
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 Samuel 5:13
After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

2 Samuel 12:11
This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.
to take care of the palace.

2 Samuel 20:3
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of 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.

Esther 2:3
and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.

2 Kings 11:5-6
and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, / a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple—
2 Samuel 19:9-15
And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. / But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?” / Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? …

1 Kings 1:33-37
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ / Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” …

1 Kings 2:26-27
Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.” / So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

2 Samuel 19:41-43
Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” / And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” / “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

the king

Psalm 3:1
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

after him [heb] at his feet

Judges 4:10
And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

1 Samuel 25:27,42
And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord…

ten women

2 Samuel 12:11
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

2 Samuel 16:21,22
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong…

2 Samuel 20:3
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.

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Care Concubines Entire Feet Following Forth House Household Leaveth Palace Ten Women
2 Samuel 15
1. Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel.
7. By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10. He makes there a great conspiracy
13. David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19. Ittai will leave him
24. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31. He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32. Hushai is sent back with instructions












Then the king set out
This phrase refers to King David, who is fleeing Jerusalem due to the rebellion led by his son Absalom. David's departure signifies a moment of humility and vulnerability, contrasting with his earlier triumphs. This event is a fulfillment of the prophecy given by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:11, where God declared that calamity would arise from David's own house. David's departure from Jerusalem is also reminiscent of the Exodus, as he leaves the city with his followers, trusting in God's guidance.

and his entire household followed him.
David's household includes his family, servants, and loyal supporters. This demonstrates the loyalty and unity among those who remained faithful to him despite the political turmoil. The household's willingness to follow David into uncertainty reflects the strong leadership and personal relationships he had cultivated. This act of following the king can be seen as a type of Christ, where believers are called to follow Jesus, even in times of trial and uncertainty.

But he left behind ten concubines
Concubines in ancient Israel were women who lived with a man in a recognized relationship but without the full status of a wife. David leaving behind ten concubines indicates a strategic decision to maintain a semblance of royal presence and care for the palace. This action, however, later leads to a tragic fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy when Absalom publicly disgraces them (2 Samuel 16:21-22), symbolizing the complete rupture within David's household.

to take care of the palace.
The concubines were left to manage the domestic affairs of the palace, ensuring its upkeep during David's absence. This decision highlights the practical aspects of governance and the need for continuity in royal duties, even amidst crisis. The palace, as the center of political power, required caretakers to maintain its operations. This situation underscores the vulnerability of David's kingdom during the rebellion and foreshadows the challenges he would face upon his return.

Persons / Places / Events
1. King David
The central figure in this passage, David is the king of Israel who is forced to flee Jerusalem due to the rebellion led by his son Absalom.

2. Absalom
David's son who has conspired to overthrow his father and take the throne of Israel, leading to David's departure from Jerusalem.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Israel and the location from which David departs. It holds significant spiritual and political importance.

4. The Last House
A stopping point for David and his followers as they leave Jerusalem, symbolizing a moment of transition and reflection.

5. David's Followers
The loyal subjects and servants who accompany David in his flight, demonstrating their allegiance to him.
Teaching Points
Trust in God's Sovereignty
Despite the chaos and betrayal, David's departure from Jerusalem is a testament to his trust in God's ultimate plan. Believers are encouraged to trust God even when circumstances seem dire.

The Cost of Sin
David's situation is a direct consequence of his past sins, reminding us that sin has lasting repercussions. It is crucial to seek repentance and live righteously.

Loyalty and Leadership
The loyalty of David's followers highlights the importance of faithful leadership and the impact it has on others. Leaders should strive to inspire such loyalty through integrity and faithfulness.

Moments of Reflection
The stop at the last house symbolizes a pause for reflection. In our lives, we should take time to reflect on God's guidance and our journey with Him.

Endurance in Trials
David's endurance during this trial is an example for believers to remain steadfast in faith during personal challenges and adversities.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 15:16?

2. How does 2 Samuel 15:16 demonstrate loyalty in times of crisis?

3. What can we learn about leadership from David's actions in 2 Samuel 15:16?

4. How does David's departure connect to Jesus' humility in Philippians 2:7-8?

5. In what ways can we show faithfulness like David's servants in our lives?

6. How does 2 Samuel 15:16 inspire trust in God's plan during difficult times?

7. Why did David leave Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 15:16?

8. How does 2 Samuel 15:16 reflect on leadership and responsibility?

9. What does 2 Samuel 15:16 reveal about loyalty and betrayal?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 15?

11. Who was Hushai in the Bible?

12. How can 2 Chronicles 16:1 claim Baasha attacked Judah in Asa's thirty-sixth year if 1 Kings 15:33 indicates Baasha died years earlier?

13. In what year of King Asa's reign did Baasha, King of Israel die? Twenty-sixth year (I Kings 15:33 - 16:8) Still alive in the thirty-sixth year (2 Chronicles 16:1)

14. 1 Chronicles 14:2 - Why would God's favor be linked to David's increasing power and multiple wives, despite biblical warnings against polygamy elsewhere?
What Does 2 Samuel 15:16 Mean
Then the king set out

• The verse drops us into the drama of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:13–14). David does not wait for events to overtake him; he moves decisively, trusting that God remains sovereign over the outcome (Psalm 3:1-3 was composed “when he fled from Absalom”).

• His departure shows humility and faith. Rather than defend himself behind Jerusalem’s walls, he entrusts his safety and future to the LORD (2 Samuel 15:25-26: “If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back…”).

• Application: Obedience sometimes means stepping away from what is comfortable or even ours by right, confident that God can restore what we relinquish.


and his entire household followed him

• “Household” includes wives, children, trusted officials, and bodyguards (2 Samuel 15:18 mentions Cherethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites). Their willingness to leave comforts echoes Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

• Loyalty to God’s anointed king mirrors a believer’s call to follow Christ wherever He leads (Luke 9:23).

• David’s household embodies corporate solidarity: when the head suffers, all feel it (1 Corinthians 12:26).


But he left behind ten concubines

• Concubines were secondary wives, legally part of the royal household. David’s choice seems practical—someone had to maintain the property—but it also fulfills the LORD’s earlier word of judgment (2 Samuel 12:11).

• Their presence becomes the flashpoint Ahithophel exploits (2 Samuel 16:21-22). What David thought routine turns into public disgrace, reminding us that sin’s consequences can surface long after forgiveness.

• Later, when David returns, these women live in seclusion for life (2 Samuel 20:3), demonstrating how others often bear collateral damage from a leader’s moral failure (compare 1 Kings 2:17-22 regarding Abishag).


to take care of the palace

• David expects to come back; he is stewarding God’s city, not abandoning it (2 Samuel 15:25). Leaving caretakers shows faith, not despair.

• Ironically, the palace becomes the stage for Absalom’s attempted legitimation of his coup, highlighting the tension between human plans and divine purposes (Proverbs 16:9).

• Practical wisdom and spiritual trust pair naturally: David organizes what he can, then leaves outcomes with God (Nehemiah 4:9 models the same blend—“we prayed… and posted a guard”).


summary

Second Samuel 15:16 records more than a travel log. Each phrase reveals David’s faith-filled exit, the loyalty he inspired, the lingering shadow of past sin, and his confident expectation of return. The verse underscores God’s faithfulness amid upheaval: when His people act in humble dependence, He weaves even painful consequences into His larger redemptive plan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the king
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

set out,
וַיֵּצֵ֥א (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and his entire
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

household
בֵּית֖וֹ (bê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

followed him.
בְּרַגְלָ֑יו (bə·raḡ·lāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

But he
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

left behind
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב (way·ya·‘ă·zōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

ten
עֶ֧שֶׂר (‘e·śer)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6235: Ten

concubines
פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים (pi·laḡ·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6370: A concubine, a paramour

to take care of
לִשְׁמֹ֥ר (liš·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the palace.
הַבָּֽיִת׃ (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: 2 Samuel 15:16 The king went forth and all his (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 15:15
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