Sa mu el 508 David leaves ten of his concubines to mind the palace, and Ahithophel advises Absalom to have intercourse with each of them, so that all the Israelites will understand that there will not be any compromise be - tween father and son, and they will not be afraid to support Absalom . Absalom immediately carries out the advice on the palace roof in a tent, so that many spectators can see him enter the tent . Absalom’s act symbolizes that he is now the new king, and he inherits the harem of the old king, as well as his kingdom . From an historical point of view, it symbolizes the new king’s authority, which has some examples with the concubines, Rizpah daughter of Aiah ( see 3 : 6 – 11 ) and later Abishag the Shunamite ( 1 Kgs 2 : 13 – 25 ) . From an ideological point of view, it is a ‘An eye for an eye’ punishment for David for his rape of Bathsheba, in accordance with Nathan’s prophecy, and as punishment for David who did nothing after Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister . Af...
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