¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines^(A) to take care of the palace.

²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.^(A)

Psalm 3^[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(A)

³ When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines^(A) he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

² Do not conform^(A) to the pattern of this world,^(B) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(C) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(D)—his good, pleasing^(E) and perfect will.

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household^(A) I am going to bring calamity on you.^(B) Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.^(C)

⁴² Abigail^(A) quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife.

²⁷ And let this gift,^(A) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

¹⁰ There Barak summoned^(A) Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.