^16:21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with²³ your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.”²⁴^16:22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof,²⁵ and Absalom had sex with²⁶ his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

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Footnotes

23 Heb “go to”; “have (+ sexual ) relations with”; “have intercourse with”; “Go and sleep with.”
24 Heb “and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
25 That is, on top of the flat roof of the palace, so it would be visible to the public.
26 Heb “went to”; “he visited his father’s concubines”; “lay with his father’s concubines”; “went in and had intercourse with.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

NLTNew Living Translation

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go to the concubines of your father whom he left behind to watch over the house, then all of Israel will hear that you made yourself odious to your father, and all of your followers will be motivated!” Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he went in to the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.

KJV 1900King James Version

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. 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.

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