2 Samuel 15:16

2Sa 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.

Ver. 16. And all his household after him.] Heb., At his feet, or, On his feet. {a} He stayed not so long till a mule could be made ready for him. See 2Sa 15:30. Fuga fuit pedestris et lugubris.

And the king left ten women.] As hoping that they would not hurt those weak women: but God had a further hand in it, for the fulfilling of that threat in 2Sa 12:11.

{a} Egressus est pedibus.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 15:16. The king went forth, and all his household after him — Or, as the Hebrew, ברגליו, berag-laiv, rather means, on foot: which the king probably chose to do, that he might humble himself under the hand of God; might encourage his adherents in this hard and comfortless march; and might move compassion in his people toward him. The king left ten women — Supposing that their sex and quality, and especially their relation to him, being his concubines, would be a sufficient protection to them, and gain them some respect, or, at least, safety from his son. What became of his wives is not here related; but it is probable they went along with him, to take care of him; as the other women were left to take care of the house.

2Sa 15:17-18, The king went forth, and all the people after him — That is, all those of Jerusalem who were well affected to him. And tarried in a place that was far off — At a good distance from the city, where, it is likely, he put the people, that had come out in a confused state, into good order, and waited to see what other friends would join him. And all his servants passed on beside him — His household servants, or body-guards, marched probably on both hands of him. And all the Gittites, six hundred men — These marched in the front of his little army; but who they were it is hard to say; for we read nothing of them before. Some take them to have been proselytes, born in Gath of the Philistines, and think they came with Ittai to David, being attracted by the fame of his piety and happy success. Others take them to have been Jews, who had fled to David in his exile, when he was at Gath, and accompanied him ever after, not only in the time of Saul’s persecution, but after he came to the crown of Israel and Judah.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hebrew, at his feet.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

16. And the king went forth] “It was apparently early on the morning of the day after he had received the news of the rebellion that the king left the city of Jerusalem. There is no single day in the Jewish history of which so elaborate an account remains as that which describes this memorable flight. There is none, we may add, that combines so many of David’s characteristics—his patience, his high-spirited religion, his generosity, his calculation: we miss only his daring courage. Was it crushed, for the moment, by the weight of parental grief, or of bitter remorse?” Stanley’s Lect. II. 97. Who we may ask, was the eyewitness who has preserved the picture of the scene with such minute and life-like detail? May it not have been the prophet Nathan?

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the king went forth,.... Which determined the case:

and all his household after him family and his court; they followed his example, and attended him in his flight:

and the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house; not to defend it, which they were unable to do, but to look after the household goods and furniture, that they were not damaged by the conspirators; though one would think they could be of little service, and may wonder what he should leave them behind for; but this seems to be ordered by the overruling providence of God, to bring about what was threatened him, Sa2 12:11; and it is much he had not thought of it; but it was hid from his eyes, that it might be fulfilled.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Concubines. That is, wives of an inferior degree, (Challoner; Genesis xxv.; Worthington) who might perhaps have some influence to pacify the rioters.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

After him, or, on foot, by comparing 2Sa 15:30, which the king chose to do rather than to ride; partly, to humble himself under the hand of God; partly, to encourage his companions in this hard and comfortless march; and partly, to move compassion in his people towards him.

The king left ten women; for he supposed that their sex would protect them even among barbarians, and their relation to David would gain them some respect, and, at least, safety from his son. But it seems he did not now actually consider that clause of the threatening concerning his wives, (God diverting his mind to other things,) or he thought that would be accomplished some other way, conceiving that Absalom would abhor the thoughts of such incestuous converse, especially with persons which were now grown in years.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

16. After him — Hebrew, as margin, at his feet; that is, in his train. Compare Jdg_4:10, and references.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

After him - Or, on foot, which the king chose to do, to humble himself under the hand of God; to encourage his companions in this hard and comfortless march; and to move compassion in his people towards him. Concubines - For he supposed that their sex would protect them, and their relation to David would gain them some respect, or at least, safety from his son.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

to keep the palace

Here the word "keep" means to care for. AT: "to care for the palace" (See: Idiom)

at the last house

This refers to the last house they would come to when leaving the city. AT: "at the last house as they were leaving the city" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Kerethites ... Pelethites

Translate the names of these people groups the same as you did in 2 Samuel 8:18.

Gittites

Translate the name of this people group the same as you did in 2 Samuel 6:10.

six hundred men

"600 men" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

family

concubine

palace

people group

Gath

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.