The Meaning of 2 Samuel 15:16 Explained

2 Samuel 15:16

KJV: And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

YLT: And the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women -- concubines -- to keep the house.

Darby: And the king went forth, and all his household after him, and the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

ASV: And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the king  went forth,  and all his household  after  him. And the king  left  ten  women,  [which were] concubines,  to keep  the house. 

What does 2 Samuel 15:16 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 15:13-23 - The Loyal Stranger
David was conscious of ill desert; hence his resolve to flee. How different his bearing now from that great hour when Goliath fell before him! Ah, conscience doth make cowards of us all! And yet there was a beautiful spirit of resignation welling up amid the salt waves of his bitter sorrow. When we are called to pass through dark hours, we cannot do better than repeat the words of this royal penitent: "Behold, here am I let him do to me as seemeth good to him." What thoughtfulness of Ittai! What pathos in the king's words to Zadok! What humility as he climbed Olivet! What trust still in God to turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness! It is an impressive picture of the resignation of a broken and a contrite heart.
They were noble words that Ittai uttered! His name associates him with David's residence in Gath, among the Philistines. He was a stranger and an exile in Israel, but the king's friendship had made a home for him. In these days of our Lord's humiliation, let us address Him in the chivalrous and noble words of 2 Samuel 15:21. See John 12:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 15

1  Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel
7  By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10  He makes there a great conspiracy
13  David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19  Ittai will leave him
24  Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30  David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31  He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32  Hushai is sent back with instructions

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 15:16 mean?

And went out the king and all with his household after him but left the king - ten women concubines to keep the house
וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־ בֵּית֖וֹ בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת

וַיֵּצֵ֥א  And  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בֵּית֖וֹ  with  his  household 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
בְּרַגְלָ֑יו  after  him 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב  but  left 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֵ֣ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֶ֧שֶׂר  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
נָשִׁ֛ים  women 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים  concubines 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: פִּלֶגֶשׁ  
Sense: concubine, paramour.
לִשְׁמֹ֥ר  to  keep 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
הַבָּֽיִת  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.