2 Samuel 16
Ziba, a False Servant
1 Now when David had gone on aa little beyond the summit, behold, bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth met him cwith a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. 2And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “ dThe donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine, efor whoever is weary in the wilderness to drink.” 3Then the king said, “And where is fyour master’s son?” And gZiba 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.’” 4So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, the king!”David Is Cursed
5 When King David came to hBahurim, behold, a man was coming out from there from the family of the house of Saul, and ihis name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he was coming out, jcursing as he came. 6He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7This is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Go away, go away, kyou man of bloodshed and worthless man! 8 lThe Lord has brought back upon you all mthe bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!” 9 Then nAbishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should othis dead dog pcurse my lord the king? Now let me go over and ▼▼Lit take off
cut off his head.” 10But the king said, “ ▼▼Lit What to me and to you, an ancient idiom
sWhat business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? tIf he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ uthen who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, vmy son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, wfor the Lord has told him. 12Perhaps the Lord will look on my ▼▼As in ancient versions; MT wrongdoing
misery and ▼▼Lit the Lord will return
zreturn good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him. 14And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there. Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15 aaThen Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16Now it came about, when abHushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that acHushai said to Absalom, “ adLong live the king! Long live the king!” 17But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ▼▼Or faithfulness
loyalty to your friend? afWhy did you not go with your friend?” 18So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. 19Besides, agwhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.” 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” 21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “ ahHave relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, aiand Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines ajin the sight of all Israel. 23Now akthe advice of Ahithophel, which he ▼▼Lit advised
gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; amso was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
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