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.

2 SAMUEL 20:3KJV
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2 Samuel 20:3 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 20:3 mean?

2 Samuel 20:3 describes how, after returning to Jerusalem, King David separated the ten women who had been his concubines, providing for their needs but no longer having a relationship with them, so they lived out their lives in isolation as widows. This was a direct result of what had happened to them during Absalom’s rebellion.

When David returned to his palace after Absalom’s revolt, he found the ten concubines he had left behind to care for the house. Because Absalom had publicly slept with them, David could not resume his relationship with them according to the customs and expectations of his time. Instead, he ensured they were cared for but kept them apart, and they lived the rest of their lives in seclusion.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 20:3

  • "Put them in ward" uses the Hebrew word מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmeret, H4931), which means a place of keeping, custody, or confinement. This word highlights that the women were not simply set aside but were kept under a kind of guarded restriction.
  • "Living in widowhood" comes from the Hebrew word אַלְמְנוּת (almanut, H491), meaning the state of being a widow. This emphasizes that, although their husbands were alive, these women were treated as if they were widows, showing the depth of their isolation and loss.

Why 2 Samuel 20:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies the lasting consequences of Absalom’s actions, not just for David but for the women involved, showing the personal cost of political rebellion.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness with which issues of honor, shame, and purity were handled in ancient Israel, especially regarding royal households.
  • It connects to the wider narrative by showing how David’s family and court continued to feel the ripple effects of his earlier choices and the turmoil within his house.