Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. So the king set outThe phrase "set out" indicates a decisive action taken by King David. In Hebrew, the word used here is "יצא" (yatsa), which means to go out or depart. This departure marks a significant moment in David's life, as he is fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion. Historically, this reflects the tumultuous period in David's reign, where internal family strife led to national crisis. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder of the trials even the most anointed leaders can face, and the need for reliance on God during times of distress. with his entire household following him
The term "entire household" encompasses all those who were part of David's immediate family and servants. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's household was not just his family but included a large retinue of servants and officials. This phrase highlights the loyalty and unity of those who chose to follow David despite the uncertainty of their future. It serves as an inspirational reminder of the importance of community and support during times of crisis, and the strength found in unity under godly leadership. but he left behind ten concubines
The mention of "ten concubines" reflects the cultural practices of the time, where kings often had concubines as part of their household. The Hebrew word for concubine is "פילגש" (pilegesh), which denotes a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than a wife. This decision by David to leave them behind was strategic, as they were to maintain the palace in his absence. Historically, this act had significant consequences, as Absalom later violated these women, fulfilling Nathan's prophecy of calamity within David's house (2 Samuel 12:11). This serves as a sobering reminder of the far-reaching impact of sin and the importance of seeking God's wisdom in all decisions. to take care of the palace
The phrase "to take care of" indicates a responsibility entrusted to the concubines. The Hebrew root "שמר" (shamar) means to guard, keep, or preserve. This task was crucial, as the palace represented the heart of the kingdom's administration and authority. In a spiritual sense, this highlights the importance of stewardship and faithfulness in the roles and responsibilities God entrusts to us, regardless of our position. It also underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and the preservation of His purposes, even amidst human failings and political upheaval. Persons / Places / Events 1. King DavidThe 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. AbsalomDavid's son who has conspired to overthrow his father and take the throne of Israel, leading to David's departure from Jerusalem. 3. JerusalemThe capital city of Israel and the location from which David departs. It holds significant spiritual and political importance. 4. The Last HouseA stopping point for David and his followers as they leave Jerusalem, symbolizing a moment of transition and reflection. 5. David's FollowersThe loyal subjects and servants who accompany David in his flight, demonstrating their allegiance to him. Teaching Points Trust in God's SovereigntyDespite 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 SinDavid'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 LeadershipThe 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 ReflectionThe 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 TrialsDavid's endurance during this trial is an example for believers to remain steadfast in faith during personal challenges and adversities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's response to Absalom's rebellion demonstrate his faith in God, and how can we apply this to our own lives when facing betrayal or adversity? 2. In what ways does the prophecy of Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:10-12 connect to the events of 2 Samuel 15:16, and what does this teach us about the consequences of sin? 3. Reflect on the loyalty of David's followers. What qualities in David's leadership might have inspired such loyalty, and how can we cultivate these qualities in our own leadership roles? 4. Consider the significance of the "last house" as a place of transition. How can we create moments of reflection in our own spiritual journeys, and why are they important? 5. How does David's endurance during this trial encourage us to remain faithful during our own challenges, and what other biblical examples can we draw from to support this? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 3This psalm is traditionally attributed to David during his flight from Absalom, expressing his trust in God despite the dire circumstances. 2 Samuel 12:10-12Nathan's prophecy to David about the sword never departing from his house, which is fulfilled in part by Absalom's rebellion. Matthew 5:10-12Jesus' teaching on persecution and the blessedness of those who endure it for righteousness' sake, paralleling David's experience of unjust suffering. People Abiathar, Absalom, Ahimaaz, Ahithophel, Aram, Arkite, Cherethites, David, Gittites, Hushai, Israelites, Ittai, Jonathan, Kerethites, Levites, Pelethites, ZadokPlaces Aram, Gath, Geshur, Giloh, Hebron, Jerusalem, Kidron, Mount of OlivesTopics Care, Concubines, Forth, Household, Leaveth, Palace, Taking, Ten, WomenDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 15:16 5672 concubines 2 Samuel 15:13-18 5087 David, reign of Library A Loyal Vow
'And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.'--2 SAMUEL xv. 15. We stand here at the darkest hour of King David's life. Bowed down by the consciousness of his past sin, and recognising in the rebellion of his favourite son the divine chastisement, his early courage and buoyant daring seem to have ebbed from him wholly. He is forsaken by the mass of his subjects, he is preparing to abandon Jerusalem, and to flee as an …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureIttai of Gath
'And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.'--2 SAMUEL xv. 21. It was the darkest hour in David's life. No more pathetic page is found in the Old Testament than that which tells the story of his flight before Absalom. He is crushed by the consciousness that his punishment is deserved--the bitter fruit of the sin that filled all his later life …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Pardoned Sin Punished
'And It came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3. And Absalom said unto him. See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Loyal to the Core
On the other hand, look at Ittai, perfectly free to go, but in order to end the controversy once for all, and to make David know that he does not mean to leave him, he takes a solemn oath before Jehovah his God, and he doubles it by swearing by the life of David that he will never leave him; in life, in death, he will be with him. He has cast in his lot with him for better and for worse, and he means to be faithful to the end. Old Master Trapp says, "All faithful friends went on a pilgrimage years …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880 Following Christ
"And Ittai answered the king, and said, as the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be."--2 Samuel 15:21. SOME men have a very remarkable power of creating and sustaining friendship in others. David was a man brimming over with affection--a man, notwithstanding all his rough soldier-life, of an exceedingly tender heart--a man, I was about to say--the word was on my tongue--a man of vast …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916 The Will of God
"Here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him."--2 Sam. xv. 26. G. Ter Steegen. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Thou sweet beloved Will of God, My anchor ground, my fortress hill, The Spirit's silent fair abode, In Thee I hide me and am still. O Will, that willest good alone, Lead Thou the way, Thou guidest best; A silent child, I follow on, And trusting, lean upon Thy Breast. God's Will doth make the bitter sweet, And all is well when it is done; Unless His Will doth hallow it, The glory …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series) A Light to Lighten the Gentiles
P. G. 2 Sam. xv. 19-22; John xii. 26 "Wherefore goest thou with me?" Said the king disowned-- Said the king despised, rejected, Disenthroned. "Go, return unto thy place, To thy king of yore-- Here a pilgrim and a stranger, Nothing more. "Not for thee the cities fair, Hills of corn and wine-- All was portioned ere thou camest, Nought is thine. "Wandering forth where'er I may, Exiled from mine own, Shame, rejection I can grant thee; That alone. "Turn and take thy brethren back, With thy people …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others The Daily Walk with Others (iii. ).
Thrice happy they who at Thy side, Thou Child of Nazareth, Have learnt to give their struggling pride Into Thy hands to death: If thus indeed we lay us low, Thou wilt exalt us o'er the foe; And let the exaltation be That we are lost in Thee. Let me say a little on a subject which, like the last, is one of some delicacy and difficulty, though its problems are of a very different kind. It is, the relation between the Curate and his Incumbent; or more particularly, the Curate's position and conduct …
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, K ING OF K INGS AND L ORD OF L ORDS T he description of the administration and glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom, in defiance of all opposition, concludes the second part of Messiah Oratorio. Three different passages from the book of Revelation are selected to form a grand chorus, of which Handel's title in this verse is the close --a title which has been sometimes vainly usurped by proud worms of this earth. Eastern monarchs, in particular, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 15:16 NIV2 Samuel 15:16 NLT2 Samuel 15:16 ESV2 Samuel 15:16 NASB2 Samuel 15:16 KJV
2 Samuel 15:16 Commentaries
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