2 Samuel 16:1–12
16 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba,a 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.b
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 refreshc those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3 The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”d
Zibae 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 Mephiboshethf 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,g a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimeih son of Gera, and he cursedi 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.j The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”k
9 Then Abishail son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dogm curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”n
10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?o If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ ”p
11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,q 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.r 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my miserys and restore to me his covenant blessingt instead of his curse today.u”