Ahithophelsaidto Absalom,"Goin to your father'sconcubines,whomhe has leftto keepthe house;then allIsraelwill hearthat you have madeyourself odiousto your father.The handsof allwhoare with you will also be strengthened."
Then Jacobsaidto Simeonand Levi,"You have broughttroubleon me by makingme odiousamong the inhabitantsof the land,among the Canaanitesand the Perizzites;and my menbeing fewin number,they will gathertogether againstme and attackme and I will be destroyed,I and my household."
It cameabout while Israelwas dwellingin that land,that Reubenwentand laywith Bilhahhis father'sconcubine,and Israelheard[of it]. The Sons of IsraelNow there were twelve
The Sons of Israel
Now there were twelve
So he turnedasideto her by the road,and said,"Herenow,let me comein to you"; for he did not knowthat she was his daughter-in-law.And she said,"Whatwill you giveme, that you may comein to me?"
The Nephilimwere on the earthin thosedays,and alsoafterward,whenthe sonsof Godcamein to the daughtersof men,and they bore[children] to them. Thosewere the mightymenwho[were] of old,menof renown.
Now when the sonsof Ammonsawthat they had becomeodiousto David,the sonsof Ammonsentand hiredthe Arameansof Beth-rehoband the Arameansof Zobah,20000footsoldiers,and the kingof Maacahwith 1,000men,and the menof Tobwith 12,000men.
"Thussaysthe LORD,'Behold,I will raiseup evilagainstyou from your own household;I will even takeyour wivesbefore your eyesand give[them] to your companion,and he will liewith your wivesin broaddaylight.
Jonadabthen saidto him, "Liedownon your bedand pretendto be ill;when your fathercomesto seeyou, sayto him, 'Pleaselet my sisterTamarcomeand give me [some] foodto eat,and let her preparethe foodin my sight,that I may see[it] and eatfrom her hand.'"
So the kingwentout and allhis householdwith him. But the kinglefttenconcubinesto keepthe house.
Then Absalomsaidto Ahithophel,"Giveyour advice.Whatshall we do?"
So Hushaisaidto Absalom,"Thistimethe advicethat Ahithophelhas givenis not good."
"Nowtherefore, let your handsbe strongand be valiant;for Saulyour lordis dead,and alsothe houseof Judahhas anointedme kingoverthem."
Then Davidcameto his houseat Jerusalem,and the kingtookthe tenwomen,the concubineswhomhe had leftto keepthe house,and placedthem under guardand providedthem with sustenance,but did not goin to them. So they were shutup untilthe dayof their death,livingas widows.
So he was an adversaryto Israelallthe daysof Solomon,along with the evilthat Hadad[did]; and he abhorredIsraeland reignedoverAram.
Then he said,"Pleasespeakto Solomonthe king,for he will not refuseyou, that he may giveme Abishagthe Shunammiteas a wife."
KingSolomonansweredand saidto his mother,"And whyare you askingAbishagthe Shunammitefor Adonijah?Askfor him also the kingdom--for he is my olderbrother--even for him, for Abiatharthe priest,and for Joabthe sonof Zeruiah!"
You shall not uncoverthe nakednessof your father'swife;it is your father'snakedness.
If [there is] a manwholieswith his father'swife,he has uncoveredhis father'snakedness;bothof them shall surelybe putto death,their bloodguiltinessis upon them.
It will comeabout that justas you were a curseamong the nations,O houseof Judahand houseof Israel,soI will saveyou that you may becomea blessing.Do not fear;let your handsbe strong.'
It is actuallyreportedthat there is immoralityamongyou, and immoralityof such a kindas does not exist evenamongthe Gentiles,that someonehashis father'swife.
AllIsraelheardthe newsthat Saulhad smittenthe garrisonof the Philistines,and alsothat Israelhad becomeodiousto the Philistines.The peoplewere then summonedto Saulat Gilgal.
So AchishbelievedDavid,saying,"He has surelymadehimself odiousamong his peopleIsrael;therefore he will becomemy servantforever."
