The Second Book of Samuel

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- Kapitel 16 -

When David had gone a short distance over the summit of the hill, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred bunches of figs, and a skin of wine.

The king said to Ziba, “Why did you bring these things?” Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fig cakes are for your men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who is faint in the wilderness to drink.”

The king said, “Then where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba replied to the king, “Look, he has stayed behind in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “Look, all that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you.” Ziba answered, “I bow in humility to you, my master, king. Let me find favor in your sight.”

Shimei Curses David

When King David approached Bahurim, there came out from there a man from the clan of Saul, whose name was Shimei son of Gera. He came out cursing as he walked.

He threw stones at David and at all of the king’s officials, in spite of the army and bodyguards who were on the king’s right and left.

Shimei called out in cursing, “Go away, get out of here, you villain, you man of blood!

Yahweh has repaid all of you for the blood you shed within the family of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood.”

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my master the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

But the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Perhaps he is cursing me because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then could say to him, ‘Why are you cursing the king?’”

So David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son, who was born from my body, wants to take my life. How much more may this Benjamite now desire my ruin? Leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has commanded him to do it.

Perhaps Yahweh will look at the misery unleashed on me, and repay me with good for his cursing me today.”

So David and his men traveled on the road, while Shimei went beside him up on the hillside, cursing and throwing dust and stones at him as he went.

Then the king and all the people who were with him became weary, and he rested when they stopped for the night.

The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai

As for Absalom and all the men of Israel who were with him, they came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

It came about when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with him?”

Hushai said to Absalom, “No! Instead, the one whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, that is the man to whom I will belong, and I will stay with him.

Also, what man should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, I will serve in your presence.”

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice about what we should do.”

Ahithophel answered Absalom, “Go sleep with your father’s slave wives whom he has left to keep the palace, and all Israel will hear that you have become a stench to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

So they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the palace, and Absalom slept with his father’s slave wives in the sight of all Israel.

Now the advice of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if a man heard from the mouth of God himself. That was how all of Ahithophel’s advice was viewed by both David and Absalom.

When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine.

The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.”

The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

Shimei Curses David

When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.

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.

Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!

The LORD has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.

It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me good for the cursing of me today.”

So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust.

The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary; and he refreshed himself there.

The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai

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

When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but whomever the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be his, and I will stay with him.

Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel what we shall do.”

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this both with David and with Absalom.