2 Samuel 16

Ziba, a False Servant

1Now when David had passed 1a little beyond the summit, behold, 2Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him 3with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. 2The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “4The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, 5for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3Then the king said, “And where is 6your master’s son?” And 7Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” 4So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

David Is Cursed

5When King David came to 8Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul 9whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out 10cursing continually as he came. 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. 7Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, 11you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! 812The Lord has returned upon you all 13the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9Then 14Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should 15this dead dog 16curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and 17cut off his head.” 10But the king said, “18What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? 19If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ 20then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, 21my son who came out from 22me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, 23for the Lord has told him. 12Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and 2425return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. 14The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

1526Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16Now it came about when 27Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that 28Hushai said to Absalom, “29Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your 30loyalty to your friend? 31Why did you not go with your friend?” 18Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19Besides, 32whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?” 21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “33Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, 34and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines 35in the sight of all Israel. 2336The advice of Ahithophel, which he 37gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; 38so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.