2 Samuel 16:22
New International Version
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

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

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
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.

Amplified Bible
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof [of the king’s palace], and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

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

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

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Absalom had a tent set up on the flat roof of the palace, and everyone watched as he went into the tent with his father's wives.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So a tent was put up on the roof for Absalom, and he slept with his father's concubines in plain sight of Israel.

Good News Translation
So they set up a tent for Absalom on the palace roof, and in the sight of everyone Absalom went in and had intercourse with his father's concubines.

International Standard Version
So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's mistresses right in front of all Israel.

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

NET Bible
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

New Heart English Bible
So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's secondary wives in the sight of all Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

World English Bible
So they spread 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they spread out the tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom goes in to the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
And they spread out for Absalom the tent on the roof, and Absalom goeth in unto the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will stretch out a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom will go in to his father's concubines before the eyes of all Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and he went in to his father's concubines before all Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, they spread a tent for Absalom on the rooftop. And he entered to the concubines of his father in the sight of all Israel.

New American Bible
So a tent was pitched on the roof for Absalom, and Absalom went to his father’s concubines in view of all Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they pitched for Abishlum a tent on the roof, and Abishlum entered into the Concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they pitched a tent for Abessalom on the roof, and Abessalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai
21Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep 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.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 12:11-12
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. / You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 1:5-6
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. / (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.

1 Kings 15:5
For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

2 Samuel 15:16
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines 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.

Leviticus 18:8
You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

Deuteronomy 22:30
A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.

Deuteronomy 27:20
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Genesis 49:4
Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

Matthew 1:6
and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Romans 1:24-28
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...


Treasury of Scripture

So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

the top

2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

went in

2 Samuel 12:11,12
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 15:16
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

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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Absalom Ab'salom Concubines Father's House Israel Lay Pitched Roof Sight Spread Tent Top Women
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2 Samuel 16
1. Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance
5. At Bahurim, Shimei curses David
9. David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge
15. Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel
20. Ahithophel's counsel














So they pitched a tent for Absalom
The act of pitching a tent signifies preparation and intent. In the Hebrew context, the word "pitched" (natah) implies a deliberate action, often associated with setting up a dwelling or a place of significance. This act was not merely logistical but symbolic, representing Absalom's bold claim to his father's throne. Historically, the roof of a palace was a place of visibility and prominence, making this act a public declaration of Absalom's rebellion and authority.

on the roof
The roof, in ancient Near Eastern architecture, was often a place of relaxation and observation. In this context, it becomes a stage for Absalom's defiance. The Hebrew word for roof (gag) suggests a high place, both physically and metaphorically. This act on the roof is a direct challenge to King David, echoing the earlier incident where David observed Bathsheba from a rooftop, thus linking past sins to present consequences.

and he slept with the concubines
The phrase "slept with" (shakab) in Hebrew is a euphemism for sexual relations, indicating not just a physical act but a claim to kingship. In ancient Israel, taking possession of a king's concubines was a declaration of taking over his household and authority. This act was a fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy to David in 2 Samuel 12:11, where God declared that David's own household would rise against him.

in the sight of all Israel
This public display was a calculated move to solidify Absalom's claim to the throne. The phrase "in the sight of all Israel" underscores the communal and national impact of Absalom's actions. It was not done in secret but openly, to demonstrate his power and to humiliate David. The Hebrew word for "sight" (ayin) also means "eye," suggesting that this act was meant to be seen and acknowledged by the people, forcing them to choose sides in this familial and national conflict.

(22) A tent upon the top of the house.--Nathan had foretold that the nature of David's public punishment should correspond to the character of his secret crime. The fact that this punishment takes place on the very roof where David had first yielded to his guilty passion makes it particularly striking.

Verse 22. - A tent; Hebrew, the tent; that constantly used by David and his family for the enjoyment of the cool evening breeze, and which the citizens of Jerusalem had frequently seen erected on the flat roof of David's house. It was when walking on this roof that David had given way to guilty passion, and now it is the scene of his dishonour.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they pitched
וַיַּטּ֧וּ (way·yaṭ·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

a tent
הָאֹ֖הֶל (hā·’ō·hel)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 168: A tent

for Absalom
לְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹם (lə·’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the roof,
הַגָּ֑ג (hag·gāḡ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1406: A roof, the top of an altar

and he
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

slept with
וַיָּבֹ֤א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

his father’s
אָבִ֔יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

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

in the sight
לְעֵינֵ֖י (lə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: 2 Samuel 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
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