1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.2 The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness."3 The king then asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba said to him, "He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, 'Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather's kingdom.'"4 Then the king said to Ziba, "All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." "I humbly bow," Ziba said. "May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king."5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.6 He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left.7 As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!8 The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!"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 does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'"11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.12 It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.16 Then Hushai the Arkite, David's confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"17 Absalom said to Hushai, "So this is the love you show your friend? If he's your friend, why didn't you go with him?"18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No, the one chosen by the LORD, by these people, and by all the men of Israel —his I will be, and I will remain with him.19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you."20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?"21 Ahithophel answered, "Sleep with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute."22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel's advice.

1 ولما عبر داود قليلا عن القمة اذا بصيبا غلام مفيبوشث قد لقيه بحمارين مشدودين عليهما مئتا رغيف خبز ومئة عنقود زبيب ومئة قرص تين وزق خمر.2 فقال الملك لصيبا ما لك وهذه. فقال صيبا الحماران لبيت الملك للركوب والخبز والتين للغلمان ليأكلوا والخمر ليشربه من اعيا في البرية.3 فقال الملك واين ابن سيدك. فقال صيبا للملك هوذا هو مقيم في اورشليم لانه قال اليوم يرد لي بيت اسرائيل مملكة ابي.4 فقال الملك لصيبا هوذا لك كل ما لمفيبوشث. فقال صيبا سجدت. ليتني اجد نعمة في عينيك يا سيدي الملك5 ولما جاء الملك داود الى بحوريم اذا برجل خارج من هناك من عشيرة بيت شاول اسمه شمعي بن جيرا. يسب وهو يخرج6 ويرشق بالحجارة داود وجميع عبيد الملك داود وجميع الشعب وجميع الجبابرة عن يمينه وعن يساره.7 وهكذا كان شمعي يقول في سبه اخرج اخرج يا رجل الدماء ورجل بليعال.8 قد رد الرب عليك كل دماء بيت شاول الذي ملكت عوضا عنه وقد دفع الرب المملكة ليد ابشالوم ابنك وها انت واقع بشرّك لانك رجل دماء.9 فقال ابيشاي ابن صروية للملك لماذا يسب هذا الكلب الميت سيدي الملك. دعني اعبر فاقطع راسه.10 فقال الملك ما لي ولكم يا بني صروية. دعوه يسب لان الرب قال له سبّ داود ومن يقول لماذا تفعل هكذا.11 وقال داود لابيشاي ولجميع عبيده هوذا ابني الذي خرج من احشائي يطلب نفسي فكم بالحري الآن بنياميني. دعوه يسب لان الرب قال له.12 لعل الرب ينظر الى مذلتي ويكافئني الرب خيرا عوض مسبته بهذا اليوم.13 واذ كان داود ورجاله يسيرون في الطريق كان شمعي يسير في جانب الجبل مقابله ويسب وهو سائر ويرشق بالحجارة مقابله ويذري التراب.14 وجاء الملك وكل الشعب الذين معه وقد اعيوا فاستراحوا هناك15 واما ابشالوم وجميع الشعب رجال اسرائيل فاتوا الى اورشليم واخيتوفل معهم.16 ولما جاء حوشاي الاركي صاحب داود الى ابشالوم قال حوشاي لابشالوم ليحي الملك ليحي الملك.17 فقال ابشالوم لحوشاي أهذا معروفك مع صاحبك. لماذا لم تذهب مع صاحبك.18 فقال حوشاي لابشالوم كلا ولكن الذي اختاره الرب وهذا الشعب وكل رجال اسرائيل فله اكون ومعه اقيم.19 وثانيا من اخدم. أليس بين يدي ابنه. كما خدمت بين يدي ابيك كذلك اكون بين يديك20 وقال ابشالوم لاخيتوفل اعطوا مشورة ماذا نفعل.21 فقال اخيتوفل لابشالوم ادخل الى سراري ابيك اللواتي تركهنّ لحفظ البيت فيسمع كل اسرائيل انك قد صرت مكروها من ابيك فتتشدد ايدي جميع الذين معك.22 فنصبوا لابشالوم الخيمة على السطح ودخل ابشالوم الى سراري ابيه امام جميع اسرائيل.23 وكانت مشورة اخيتوفل التي كان يشير بها في تلك الايام كمن يسأل بكلام الله. هكذا كل مشورة اخيتوفل على داود وعلى ابشالوم جميعا