2 Samuel 16
16:1 a Ziba: See study note on 9:11; see also 9:1-13 b; 19:24-30 c.• As Saul’s grandson (16:3 d), Mephibosheth was a potential rival for the throne.
Summary for 2Sam 16:3-4: 16:3-4 e Ziba was lying to David for his own gain; Mephibosheth later set the record straight (19:24-30 f).
16:5 g Bahurim was in the territory of Benjamin east of the Mount of Olives on the way to the Jordan River. It is likely that many people from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, harbored lingering resentment against David’s rule. In the case of Shimei, his loyalty to Saul was even stronger because he was from the same clan in the tribe of Benjamin.
Summary for 2Sam 16:7-8: 16:7-8 h Shimei cursed David, holding him responsible for the violent death of Saul and his clan.
16:8 i The Lord is paying you back: Shimei interpreted Absalom’s rebellion as the Lord’s retribution. However, David was innocent (see study notes on 1:4, 15-16).
16:9 j Abishai was David’s nephew (1 Chr 2:13-16 k) and evidently a member of his personal guard. He believed that no one should talk this way to the king and live to tell about it (cp. 2 Sam 19:21 l). David was slower to judge (cp. 1 Kgs 2:8-9 m).
16:10 n If the Lord has told him to curse me: David felt it might have been punishment for past sins.
• David was—contrary to Shimei’s charges—reducing the violence that surrounded him.
Summary for 2Sam 16:11-12: 16:11-12 o even more reason: David understood why a supporter of Saul might hate him.
16:16 p Long live the king! Hushai’s words were deliberately ambiguous. He was in fact an agent of the true king—David was truly “the man ... chosen by the Lord” (16:18 q). Hushai avoided using the king’s name, leading Absalom to believe that Hushai was loyal to him rather than to David.
16:19 r why shouldn’t I serve you? (literally and second, to whom will I do service? Not before his son?): The ambiguous language continues. Hushai phrased his profession of loyalty as a question rather than as a commitment. His intent, lost on Absalom, was to serve David while fooling Absalom into thinking that he had changed sides. Similarly, just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser! is literally, as I served before your father, so I will [serve your father] before you.
16:21 s Go and sleep with your father’s concubines: A usurper took a predecessor’s harem to assert or strengthen his claim to the throne (see 3:7 t). Absalom’s action was in violation of Deut 22:30 u.
16:22 v Absalom intended to show the people that he had assumed the throne with its royal prerogatives. His shameful act echoed David’s adultery with Bathsheba, which also began on that roof (11:2-4 w); the episode fulfilled Nathan’s prophecy (12:11-12 x).
16:23 y from the mouth of God: Cp. 17:14 z.
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