2 Samuel 16

1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2 “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3 “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”

4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.

6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.

7 And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!

8 The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

10 But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

12 Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

13 So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.

14 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

15 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

16 And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19 Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

1 ¶ And when David was a little past the top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses [be] for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

3 And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all that [pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

5 ¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

6 And he cast 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 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 ¶ And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19 And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

1 And when David was come down a little from the high place, behold, Ziba the lad of Mephibosheth met him, saddled with a pair of asses; and upon them were two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred heads of raisins, and an hundred heads of figs, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, What wilt thou do with these? And Ziba said, The asses shall be for the king's servants to ride upon, and the loaves and figs for the young men to eat, and the wine to drink, when they are weary in the wilderness.

3 And the king said, Where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me my father's kingdom.

4 And the king said unto Ziba, Behold, all that Mephibosheth hath shall be thine. Ziba said: I worship; let me find grace in thy sight, my lord king.

5 And it came to pass, when king David was come to Bahurim, that, behold, there went out a man there of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera; and he went out, and cursed;

6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David. For all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7 And Shimei, when he had cursed, said, Out, out, thou bloodhound, thou loose man.

8 The LORD hath recompensed thee for all the blood of the house of Saul, because thou hast reigned in his stead. Now hath the LORD delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art in thy calamity, because thou art a bloodhound.

9 And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said unto the king, Shall this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will go and pluck off his head.

10 And the king said: Ye children of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you? Let him curse: for the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who then can say, Why doest thou thus?

11 And David said unto Abishai, and unto all his servants: Behold, my son, which is come out of my womb, is after my life: why not now also the son of Jemini? Let him be subdued, that he may curse: for the LORD hath commanded him.

12 Peradventure the LORD will look upon my affliction, and repay me with kindness his cursing this day.

13 So David went on his way with his men: but Shimei went on beside him by the side of the mountain, and cursed, and cast stones at him, and blasted him with stones of the earth.

14 And the king came in, and all the people that were with him, weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And when Hushai the Arachite, David's friend, came in unto Absalom, he said unto Absalom, Happy king! Happy is he, O king!

17 And Absalom said unto Hushai, Is this thy mercy to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Not so; but whom the LORD hath chosen, and this people, and all the men of Israel, I will be his, and will dwell with him.

19 Secondly, whom shall I serve? Should I not serve before his son? As I have served thy father. As I have served before thy father, so will I serve before thee.

20 And Absalom said unto Ahithophel, Counsel ye, what shall we do?

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Put to sleep thy father's concubines, whom he hath left to keep the house: and all Israel shall hear that thou hast made thy father to stink, and all the hands that are with thee shall be the more bold.

22 And they made Absalom a tent upon the housetop: and Absalom slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 At that time, when Ahithophel gave counsel, it was as if one had asked of God: so all the counsel of Ahithophel was both with David and with Absalom.