2 Samuel 16:21
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
2 Samuel 16:21
Ahithophel’s counsel to engage in intercourse with his father’s concubines is a stark, brutal act meant to publicly humiliate David and signal Absalom’s complete severance from his father. It’s one of the darkest episodes in David’s story, illustrating how power can degenerate into personal vengeance and public shaming.
The verse underscores the corruption that political ambition can unleash. It also contrasts human schemes with divine humility, reminding readers that the moral order matters even in crisis. The act serves as a dramatic illustration of how consequences ripple through families and the nation when leadership chooses cruelty over justice.
Power can tempt us to dehumanize others. Guard your motives against bitterness that manifests in public acts of retaliation. If you lead, choose accountability measures and enforce boundaries that prevent abuses of authority. If you’re a citizen, resist normalization of cruelty in political discourse; instead, advocate for policies and actions that restore dignity and protect the vulnerable.
Cross-References
- 2 Samuel 11 (David and Bathsheba as a cautionary mirror)
- Romans 12:17-21 (do not repay evil with evil)
- Ezekiel 22:29 (cruelty in leadership condemned)