"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"
2 Samuel 20:3 KJV
Customarily, women enter into widowhood as soon as their husbands are dead. In contrast, for the first time in the Bible — perhaps, the first time in the world — women became Widows before their husband died.
No one will accept widowhood without the due process. However, these women accepted theirs because they committed an unimaginable atrocity in their matrimony homes.
These people were not legally married: there were concubines. In the Bible times, such kind of people were all over the towns of Israel.
The despicable act of bringing strange partner into the house after marriage became a norm. Even prominent personalities, including great men of God perpetuated the ungodly act. From Abraham to King David, even after the later, the practice was something people reckon with.
ABOUT THE WIDOWS
The ten women were concubines to King David. He had several wives, as if they were not enough; he went for more of them, who became fleshes of his flesh and bones of his bone without getting married to them.
These concubines were his favorites. He took proper care of them. Even though they were not legally married, they enjoyed as much luxuries as his wives.
On one fateful day, Absalom — the third born of David — rose up against his father because he wanted to dethrone him. After he successfully convinced a certain group and majority of people in the land, he made his father ran away from the palace.
Thereafter, he solicited for the support of his fathers counselor — Ahitophel. Unfortunately, one of the wisest men in the land wrongfully counseled him: His counsel was incestuous. He told him to take hold of his father’s concubines.
So, he adhered to his words and demanded the presence of the women who were left in the palace after the departure of his dad.
In the presence of all Isrealites, he had immoral act with the women, which confirmed the judgement of God upon his family for taking another’s wife. Eventually, when Joab killed Absalom, his dad moved back to the palace. Knowing fully well that his third child had desecrated the precious females he loved so much, he locked them up in a room till the day of their death.
Their punishments were too harsh as they were not allowed to come out. Even their husband, who made them Widows for life, did not check them till the day he died.
Their pain and agony is making me feel the pain of female in a home where they have to take care of children without the support of any man. Therefore, I’ve vowed to give the income of this article to people in this precarious situation.
Please, share and comment to help raise money for them. Moreover, suggest names of widow in your vicinity for their chance to be among the benefactors.
