2 Samuel 20:3
“David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody, and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.”
What does 2 Samuel 20:3 mean?
After David's son Absalom had rebelled against him and violated these women as an act of public humiliation, David couldn't restore normal relations with them. He provided for their physical needs but separated them permanently, and they remained in that isolated state for the rest of their lives. This reflects the deep shame and broken trust that resulted from the rebellion, though David did ensure they weren't abandoned or destitute. It's a somber reminder of how conflict and betrayal create wounds that sometimes can't be healed, even when someone tries to do right by the injured parties.