Chapter 16

Ziba, a False Servant

1 Now when David had passed aa little beyond the summit, behold, bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth met him cwith 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.

2 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “aThe donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, bfor whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3 Then the king said, “And where is ayour master’s son?” And bZiba 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.’ ”

4 So 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

5 When King David came to aBahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul bwhose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ccursing continually as he came.

6 He 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.

7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, ayou man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 “aThe Lord has returned upon you all bthe 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!”

9 Then aAbishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should bthis dead dog ccurse my lord the king? Let me go over now and 1cut off his head.”

10 But the king said, “aWhat have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? bIf he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ cthen who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, amy son who came out from 1me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, bfor the Lord has told him.

12 “Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and 1areturn good to me instead of his cursing this day.”

13 So 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.

14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15 aThen Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 Now it came about when aHushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that bHushai said to Absalom, “cLong live the king! Long live the king!”

17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your 1loyalty to your friend? aWhy did you not go with your friend?”

18 Then 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.

19 “Besides, awhom 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.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?”

21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “aGo 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.”

22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, aand Absalom went in to his father’s concubines bin the sight of all Israel.

23 aThe advice of Ahithophel, which he 1gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; bso was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.