Font Size
2 Samuel 16:21-23
Expanded Bible
2 Samuel 16:21-23
Expanded Bible
21 Ahithophel said, “Your father left behind some of his ·slave women [L concubines; C secondary wives; 3:7] to take care of the palace. ·Have sexual relations with [Sleep with; L Go into] them. Then all Israel will hear that ·your father is your enemy [L you have gravely insulted/made yourself odious to your father], and all ·your people [Israel; or those who support you] will be ·encouraged to give you more [stronger in their] support.” 22 So they put up a tent for Absalom on the roof [C the flat roofs of Israelite houses were used for living space] of ·his palace [L the king’s house] where everyone in Israel could see it. And Absalom ·had sexual relations with [slept with; L went in to] his father’s ·slave women [concubines].
23 At that time people thought Ahithophel’s advice was as ·reliable as God’s own word [L if one consulted a word/message/oracle from God]. Both David and Absalom thought ·it was that reliable [so].
Read full chapter
2 Samuel 16:21-23
New International Version
2 Samuel 16:21-23
New International Version
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)
23 Now in those days the advice(B) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David(C) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
2 Samuel 16:21-23
King James Version
2 Samuel 16:21-23
King James Version
21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
Read full chapter
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.