2 Samuel 20:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-3

David, in the midst of his triumphs, has here the affliction to see his kingdom disturbed and his family disgraced. I. His subjects revolting from him at the instigation of a man of Belial, whom they followed when they forsook the man after God's own heart. Observe, 1. That this happened immediately upon the crushing of Absalom's rebellion. We must not think it strange, while we are in this world, if the end of one trouble be the beginning of another: deep sometimes calls unto deep. 2. That... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

And David came to his house at Jerusalem ,.... His palace there, which was in that part of the city called the fort of Zion, and city of David: and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house ; when he fled from Jerusalem because of Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:16 , and put them in ward ; partly as a punishment for easily yielding to the lust of Absalom, and partly that they might not be seen, which would bring to remembrance his sin: and fed them ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

The ten women - He could not well divorce them; he could not punish them, as they were not in the transgression; he could no more be familiar with them, because they had been defiled by his son; and to have married them to other men might have been dangerous to the state: therefore he shut them up and fed them - made them quite comfortable, and they continued as widows to their death. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-3

( GILGAL .) The insurrection of Sheba. "We have no part in David, And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!" ( 2 Samuel 20:1 ; 1 Kings 12:16 .) Before the restoration of David was completed, a new rebellion broke out. The people were still disquieted, like the sea after a storm; the independent action of Judah in conducting the king over the Jordan aroused the jealousy of the other tribes; at Gilgal ( 1 Samuel 11:15 ; 1 Samuel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-13

The facts are: 1 . Among the men who discuss the question of priority with Judah is a worthless man named Sheba, and he raises the cry of revolt against David, and the men of Israel follow him, while those of Judah cleave to the king. 2 . David enters his house and makes arrangement for the sustenance of his concubines, who henceforth live in virtual widowhood. 3 . David, observing that Amasa was tardy in executing his orders to gather the men of Judah, directs Abishai to go out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

They were shut up. We are not to conclude that all widows had to live in seclusion, but only that those women who belonged to the royal harem, but had been taken by another, were not allowed to return to it, but condemned to a sort of imprisonment. Living in widowhood. This is explained by the Chaldee as lasting only during David's life, its rendering being, "in widowhood while their husband was alive." read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 20:3

2 Samuel 20:3. But went not in unto them He looked upon them as become impure to him, having been defiled by his son. They were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood Being royal wives, it was not proper they should be married to any one else, and therefore David did not give them a bill of divorce, but shut them up close, that no man might have converse with them. And indeed it would not have been prudent to have let them be so much as seen abroad, as that would have... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

Sheba’s revolt (20:1-26)With virtually the whole nation in a state of unrest, Sheba, a Benjaminite, seized the opportunity to try to lead the northern tribes to break away from David (20:1-2). Being anxious to re-establish his kingdom in Jerusalem, David did not leave the city but sent his new commander-in-chief Amasa to assemble the army and pursue Sheba (3-4).When Amasa was slow in assembling the army, David sent off his private army, the fighting force that had been with him since the days... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

DAVID PUTS HIS TEN CONCUBINES IN JAIL FOR LIFE"And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to care for the house, and put them in a house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up till the day of their death, living as if in widowhood."This writer finds no way to justify this tragic treatment of ten faithful concubines who had committed no crime, who were guilty of no unfaithfulness, and who presumably... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

2 Samuel 20:3. The king took the ten women his concubines, &c.— As soon as David arrived at Jerusalem, one of his first cares was to remove those concubines, or secondary wives, whom Absalom had so scandalously abused. He ordered them, therefore, to be separated from the palace, and maintained in a proper place of seclusion and retirement, where they ended their lives as widows. The Jews say, that the widows of their kings could never marry again. David treated them as widows, and allowed... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 20:3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

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