2 Samuel 20:3

1 Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for 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.

4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

5 So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for 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.
KJV
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.
WEB
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 custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
ASV
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 provided them with sustenance, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
DARBY
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in a house of confinement and maintained them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
BLB
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 he placed them in a house under guard. And he supported them, and to them he did not go in. And they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
ÅB
Så kom David hjem til Jerusalem. Og kongen tok de ti medhustruer som han hadde latt bli tilbake for å ta vare på huset, og lot dem bo i et hus for seg selv under varetekt; han forsørget dem med det nødvendige, men gikk ikke inn til dem. Der satt de nå innestengt til sin dødsdag og levde hele resten av sitt liv som enker.
OTB
Da David kom til sitt hus i Jerusalem. Og kongen tok de ti kvinnene, medhustruene som han hadde latt bli igjen for å ta vare på huset, og satte dem i forvaring og sørget for dem, men gikk ikke inn til dem. Så de ble holdt innesperret til den dagen de døde, levende som enker.
B1930
Så kom David hjem til Jerusalem. Og kongen tok de ti medhustruer som han hadde latt bli tilbake for å ta vare på huset, og lot dem bo i et hus for sig selv under varetekt; han forsørget dem med det nødvendige, men gikk ikke inn til dem. Der satt de nu innestengt til sin dødsdag og levde hele resten av sitt liv som enker.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 16:21–22

    Ahithophel 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.”

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 40:3

    and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

    Read in context