2 Samuel 16

Mephibosheths Servant

1 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.2 And the king said to Ziba, What do you mean to do with these? So Ziba said, The donkeys are for the kings household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.3 Then the king said, And where is your masters son? And Ziba said to the king, Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.4 So the king said to Ziba, Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours. And Ziba said, I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!

Shimei Curses David

5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.6 And he threw 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 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue!8 The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!10 But the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, Curse David. Who then shall say, Why have you done so?11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him.12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

The Advice of Ahithophel

15 Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, Davids friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Long live the king! Long live the king!17 So Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?18 And Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your fathers presence, so will I be in your presence.20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give advice as to what we should do.21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your fathers concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel.23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

2 SAMUEL 16

Ziba Gives Food to David

1  t David had started down the other side of the Mount of Olives, when he was met by Ziba, the chief servant of Mephibosheth.t Ziba had two donkeys that were carrying 200 loaves of bread, 100 handfuls of raisins, 100 figs, t and some wine.

2 “What's all this?” David asked.
Ziba said, “The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and fruit are for the people to eat, and the wine is for them to drink in the desert when they are tired out.”

3  t “And where is Mephibosheth?” David asked.
Ziba answered, “He stayed in Jerusalem, because he thinks the people of Israel want him to rule the kingdom of his grandfather Saul.”

4 David then told him, “Everything that used to belong to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
Ziba said, “Your Majesty, I am your humble servant, and I hope you will be pleased with me.”

Shimei Curses David

6 He threw stones at David, at his soldiers, and at everyone else, including the bodyguards who walked on each side of David.
7 Shimei was yelling at David, “Get out of here, you murderer! You good-for-nothing,

8 the [Lord] is paying you back for killing so many in Saul's family. You stole his kingdom, but now the [Lord] has given it to your son Absalom. You're a murderer, and that's why you're in such big trouble!”

9 Abishai said, “Your Majesty, this man is as useless as a dead dog! He shouldn't be allowed to curse you. Let me go over and chop off his head.”

10 David replied, “What will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? If Shimei is cursing me because the [Lord] has told him to, then who are you to tell him to stop?”

11 Then David said to Abishai and all his soldiers:
My own son is trying to kill me! Why shouldn't this man from the tribe of Benjamin want me dead even more? Let him curse all he wants. Maybe the [Lord] did tell him to curse me.

12 But if the [Lord] hears these curses and sees the trouble I'm in, maybe he will have pity on me instead.
13 David and the others went on down the road. Shimei went along the hillside by the road, cursing and throwing rocks and dirt at them.

14 When David and those with him came to the Jordan River, they were tired out. But after they rested, theyt felt much better.

Hushai Meets Absalom

16 David's friend Hushai came to Absalom and said, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 But Absalom asked Hushai, “Is this how you show loyalty to your friend David? Why didn't you go with him?”
18 Hushai answered, “The [Lord] and the people of Israel have chosen you to be king. I can't leave. I have to stay and serve the one they've chosen.

19 Besides, it seems right for me to serve you, just as I served your father.”

Ahithophel's Advice

20 Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said, “Give us your advice! What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel answered, “Some of your father's wivest were left here to take care of the palace. You should have sex with them. Then everyone will find out that you have publicly disgraced your father. This will make you and your followers even more powerful.”

22  t Absalom had a tent set up on the flat roof of the palace, and everyone watched as he went into the tent with his father's wives.
23 Ahithophel gave such good advice in those days that both Absalom and David thought it came straight from God.