2 Samuel 16

1 And when David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.3 And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow:8 Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art taken in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so?11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him.12 It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

15 And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king.17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, that he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then will the hands of all that are with thee be strong.22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

2 Samuel 16

David Receives Gifts from Ziba

1 When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit,t and a container of wine.
2 The king asked Ziba, “Why did you bring these things?”t Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride on, the loaves of breads and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert.”t3 The king asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”t Ziba replied to the king, “He remains in Jerusalem,s for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather’st kingdom.’”

4 The king said to Ziba, “Everything that was Mephibosheth’s now belongs to you.” Ziba replied, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David and His Men

5 Then King David reachedt Bahurim. There a man from Saul’s extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached.t6 He threw stones at David and all of King David’s servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left.7 As he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man!t

8 The Lord has punished you fort all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”10 But the king said, “What do we have in common,t you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’”11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son, my very own flesh and blood,t is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him.

12 Perhaps the Lord will notice my afflictions and this day grant me good in place of his curse.”t
13 So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them.t

14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where Davidt refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel

15 Now when Absalom and all the ment of Israel arrived in Jerusalem,s Ahithophel was with him.

16 When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him,t “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”18 Hushai replied to Absalom, “No, I will be loyal to the one whom the Lord, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.t

19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”t
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex witht your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.”t

22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof,s and Absalom had sex witht his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation.t Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.t