2 Samuel 16 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the story of what David did as the king of Israel and specifically how he resisted Absalom’s attempt to replace him as king. It tells how Ziba, Saul’s servant who was helping to provide for Mephibosheth, brought David food to sustain him and the people with him in the wilderness. It tells how a Benjaminite man named Shimei cursed David and threw stones at him as David walked through the area where Shimei lived. It tells how Hushai the Archite got Absalom to accept him as a counselor. It then tells how Ahithophel, Absalom’s other counselor, advised him to have sexual relations with the concubines David had left in Jerusalem.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Why did Ahithophel tell Absalom to have sexual relations with David’s concubines?

One reason why Ahithophel told Absalom to do this was to make a complete break with David so that his followers would fight desperately. Ahithophel says this himself in [16:21](../16/21.md). However, a further reason may have been that having sexual relations with a former king’s concubines would be a symbolic assertion that Absalom was now the king instead. This seems to be the background in [3:7](../03/07.md) and later in [1 Kings 2:22](../../1ki/02/22.md).

Translation Issues in This Chapter

“the people”

In the story of Absalom’s rebellion against David, the author and characters use the term “people” in various contexts to mean either the crowd of supporters who left Jerusalem with David or the soldiers who fought for David or for Absalom. In [chapter 15](../15/01.md), the term “people” seems to refer in each instance to the crowd, which included both soldiers and others. In [chapters 16–19](../16/01.md), the term means different things in different contexts. For example, in [16:6](../16/06.md), it seems to describe David’s soldiers, who surrounded him to protect him from the stones that Shimei was throwing at him. But in [16:14](../16/14.md) it seems to refer to the entire crowd that was with David. The UST gives an indication of the meaning in each context, and this may help you translate the term in that context in a way that will be helpful to your readers.

Hushai’s overstatement for emphasis

In [16:18](../16/18.md), Hushai tells Absalom that “every man of Israel” is supporting him. Hushai is saying every as an overstatement for emphasis to try to convince Absalom of his loyalty. Absalom himself has just acknowledged that many Israelites have gone with David, and he has suggested that Hushai might have done that himself. So Hushai really means that “very many” Israelites are supporting Absalom. However, it would be good to show in your translation that he is making an overstatement for emphasis, so we recommend that you not translate his statement as a less emphatic one. (See: figs-hyperbole)