KJV ORIGINAL
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
So the king left the city, and his entire household followed him. But the king left ten women who were his concubines behind to take care of the palace.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes King David fleeing Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, leaving behind some of his household staff to maintain the palace.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Absalom's revolt against his father King David, forcing David to flee Jerusalem to avoid civil war. In ancient Near Eastern royal courts, concubines were secondary wives who often served administrative roles in the palace. David's decision to leave them behind was likely practical - someone needed to maintain the royal residence during his absence.
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