20:2 So all the men of Israel deserted 1 David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the Jordan River 2 to Jerusalem. 3
20:3 Then David went to his palace 4 in Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and placed them under confinement. 5 Though he provided for their needs, he did not have sexual relations with them. 6 They remained in confinement until the day they died, living out the rest of their lives as widows.
1 tn Heb “went up from after.”
2 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
4 tn Heb “house.”
5 tn Heb “and he placed them in a guarded house.”
6 tn Heb “he did not come to them”; NAB “has no further relations with them”; NIV “did not lie with them”; TEV “did not have intercourse with them”; NLT “would no longer sleep with them.”