question

[Jessie]

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2Sa 20:3 And 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 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.


what does it mean they were shut up?

[TEXASGRANDMA]

They were never with a man is what I would say.

[CoreIssue]

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2Sa 20:3 And 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 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.


what does it mean they were shut up?
I think this answers it.

NIV
3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

To shut up is to confine in some kind of structure.

Concubine means they were in David's household, he was having sex with them, but never married them.

And, as TEXASGRANDMA said, they lived out their lives without a man in it.

[Jessie]

why would he shut them up in a house? seems that would be miserable.

[CoreIssue]

why would he shut them up in a house? seems that would be miserable.

2 Samuel 16
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?"

21 Ahithophel answered, "Lie with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened." 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel's advice.
Mosaic Law forbade a son having sex with the woman who had sex with his father. And vice versa.

So, By committing this act Absalom was really insulting David.

Once over, David could no longer have sex with them. But they were still his.

You have to remember, at that time, a royal house included land, gardens, terraces and such. So, while confined, it was not like being in prison.

Plus, he was protecting himself from further embrassment by preventing them from having sex with another man.

[Jessie]

ok makes good sense, now was all of this on absolums part because of the rape of his sister?
and david did'nt do anything about it?

frankly I think its discusting how the men just used the wemon to get to other men.
not thinking of the reprocussions to the women.

[CoreIssue]

ok makes good sense, now was all of this on absolums part because of the rape of his sister?
and david did'nt do anything about it?

frankly I think its discusting how the men just used the wemon to get to other men.
not thinking of the reprocussions to the women.
Absolom wanted to kill David and become King.

He was trying to consolidate his power and strip all respect of David by taking these women for his own. Take his throne, home, possessions and all else.