2 Samuel 16:5–23
5 Now when King David came to fBahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was gShimei 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 1bloodthirsty man, hyou 2rogue! 8 The Lord has ibrought upon you all jthe 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 are caught in your own evil, because you are a 3bloodthirsty man!”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this kdead dog lcurse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”
10 But the king said, m“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because nthe Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ oWho then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how pmy son who qcame from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this 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 4my affliction, and that the Lord will rrepay me with sgood 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 5kicked up dust. 14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
15 Meanwhile tAbsalom 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, uDavid’s friend, came to Absalom, that vHushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? wWhy 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, xwhom should I serve? Should I 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 yAhithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s zconcubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you aare abhorred by your father. Then bthe 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 cin 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 dboth with David and with Absalom.