2 Samuel 16:21
“Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.””
What does 2 Samuel 16:21 mean?
Ahithophel is advising Absalom on how to cement his rebellion against King David. By publicly taking over his father's concubines, Absalom would send a shocking signal to everyone that he's completely severing ties with David and claiming the throne as his own, making it impossible to reconcile or back down. This cruel strategy is meant to rally Absalom's supporters by making them feel committed and invested in his victory, since they'd be complicit in such a dramatic act of defiance. It's a dark moment in the story that shows how rebellion corrupts judgment, turning people toward increasingly destructive choices to protect their power grab.