SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:21
Y Ahitofel dijo a Absalón: Entra a las concubinas de tu padre, que él dejó para guardar la casa; y todo el pueblo de Israel oirá que te has hecho aborrecible a tu padre, y así se esforzarán las manos de todos los que están contigo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 16:21
Verse 21. Go in unto thy father's concubines] It may be remembered that David left ten of them behind to take care of the house, see chap. xv. 16. Ahithophel advised this infernal measure, in order to prevent the possibility of a reconciliation between David and his son; thus was the prophecy to Nathan fulfilled, chap. xii. 11. And this was probably transacted in the very same place where David's eye took the adulterous view of Bath-sheba; see chap. xi. 2. The wives of the conquered king were always the property of the conqueror; and in possessing these, he appeared to possess the right to the kingdom. Herodotus informs us that Smerdis, having seized on the Persian throne after the death of Cambyses, espoused all the wives of his predecessor, lib. iii., c. 68. But for a son to take his father's wives was the sum of abomination, and was death by the law of God, Lev. xx. 11.
This was a sin rarely found, even among the Gentiles.
Every part of the conduct of Absalom shows him to have been a most profligate young man; he was proud, vindictive, adulterous, incestuous, a parricide, and, in fine, reprobate to every good word and work. We still however recollect that David had grievously sinned, and we should also recollect that he suffered grievously for it; and that his humiliation, repentance, and amendment, were most decisive and exemplary. Reader, God is as just as he is merciful.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom , etc.] Either immediately of himself, without consulting with others; or after a consultation had been held between them, he as the president of it, and their mouth, gave the following advice; though the former seems most correct: go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left, to keep the house ; and lie with them; there were ten of them, ( 2 Samuel 15:16); and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father ; this fact will be so abominable to him, and he will so highly resent it, as never to forgive thee, and be reconciled unto thee: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong ; he intimates that they were now weak, and did not act with spirit; they were fearful that David and Absalom would be reconciled, and then they should be reckoned traitors, and fall a sacrifice to David’s vengeance, for their treason against him: but by Absalom’s taking such a step as this, which would make him for ever the object of his father’s hatred, their hands and hearts would be strengthened, and their fears removed, and they would not have the least jealousy of a reconciliation between them, and of their being left to the resentment of David. Some think this was not his only reason for giving this counsel, but also to revenge David’s abuse of Bathsheba, his son’s daughter, as she is supposed to be, (see Gill on “ 2 Samuel 15:12”); however, it was so ordered in Providence, that this advice should be given and taken, to fulfil the prophecy of the Lord to Nathan, ( 2 Samuel 12:11).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-23 - The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalo thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserabl counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to d wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did a effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. Afte all, honesty is the best policy, and will be found so in the long run Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom; to render himself so hatefu to his father, that he would never be reconciled to him; this curse policy was of the devil. How desperately wicked is the human heart __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 אחיתפל 302 אל 413 אבשׁלם 53 בוא 935 אל 413 פלגשׁי 6370 אביך 1 אשׁר 834 הניח 3240 לשׁמור 8104 הבית 1004 ושׁמע 8085 כל 3605 ישׂראל 3478 כי 3588 נבאשׁת 887 את 854 אביך 1 וחזקו 2388 ידי 3027 כל 3605 אשׁר 834 אתך׃ 854
