II Samuel 16

Mephibosheth’s Servant

1 When*2 Sam. 16:15 David was a little past the top ofthemountain, there was *2 Sam. 15:30, 32Ziba 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 king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for *2 Sam. 9:2; 19:17, 29those who are faint in the wilderness to drink."

3 Then the king said, "And where is your *2 Sam. 15:23; 17:29master’s son?"

*2 Sam. 9:9, 10And 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 *2 Sam. 19:27Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was*2 Sam. 3:16Shimei 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, *2 Sam. 19:21; 1 Kin. 2:8, 9, 44–46you rogue! 8 The Lord has *Deut. 13:13brought upon you all *Judg. 9:24, 56, 57; 1 Kin. 2:32, 33the 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 arecaught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!"

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this *2 Sam. 1:16; 3:28, 29; 4:11, 12dead dog *1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 9:8curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!"

10 But the king said, *Ex. 22:28"What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because *2 Sam. 3:39; 19:22; (1 Pet. 2:23)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ *2 Kin. 18:25; (Lam. 3:38)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ "

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how *(Rom. 9:20)my son who *2 Sam. 12:11came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now maythis 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 *Gen. 15:4repay me with *Deut. 23:5; Neh. 13:2; Prov. 20:22good 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 *Deut. 23:5; (Rom. 8:28; Heb. 12:10, 11)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, *2 Sam. 15:12, 37David’s friend, came to Absalom, that *2 Sam. 15:37Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? *2 Sam. 15:34Why 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, *2 Sam. 19:25; (Prov. 17:17)whom should I serve? ShouldI not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence."

20 Then Absalom said to *2 Sam. 15:34Ahithophel, "Give advice as to what we should do."

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father’s *2 Sam. 15:12concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you *2 Sam. 15:16; 20:3are abhorred by your father. Then *Gen. 34:30; 1 Sam. 13:4the 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 father’s concubines *2 Sam. 2:7; Zech. 8:13in 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 *2 Sam. 12:11, 12both with David and with Absalom.