¹⁶ So the king left, followed by all his household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.^(A)

²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, the ones he has left to look after the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”^{(A) 22} So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.^(B)

Psalm 3

Trust in God under Adversity

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.

³ David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to look after the house and put them in a house under guard and provided for them but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.^(A)

² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[a](A)

¹¹ Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.^(A)

⁴² Abigail got up hurriedly and rode away on a donkey; her five maids attended her. She went after the messengers of David and became his wife.^(A)

²⁷ And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.

¹⁰ Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand warriors went up behind him, and Deborah went up with him.^(A)