2 Samuel 16

Ziba Meets David

1When David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba servant of Mephibosheth came to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred portions of summer fruit, and a skin of wine. 2The king said to Ziba, “What are these for you?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for whoever becomes faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3The king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Look, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.’” 4Then the king said to Ziba, “Look, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

5King David came as far as Bahurim, and behold, from there a man from the clan of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei son of Gera. He came out, cursing as he came. 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, while all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and on his left. 7Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Go out, go out, man of blood, worthless man! 8The LORD has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And look, you are in your own evil, for you are a man of blood.”

David Refuses to Kill Shimei

9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me cross over and remove his head.” 10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who can say, ‘Why have you done this?’” 11David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has said to him. 12Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction and the LORD will return good to me in place of his curse this day.” 13So David and his men went on the way, while Shimei went along the side of the hill opposite him, cursing as he went, throwing stones opposite him, and throwing dust. 14The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary, and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16And it happened when Hushai the Archite, David’s companion, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your steadfast love to your companion? Why did you not go with your companion?” 18Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but the one whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be before his son? As I served before your father, so I will be before you.”

Absalom Takes David’s Concubines

20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give counsel among yourselves what we should do.” 21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines whom he left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will become strong.” 22So they spread a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines before the eyes of all Israel.

Ahithophel’s Counsel Is Treated as an Oracle

23Now the counsel that Ahithophel counseled in those days was as if a man inquired at the word of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.