16
1 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.
2 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.”
3 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.’ ”
4 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.”
5 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.
6 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 Shimei
said when he
cursed, “Be gone,
be gone, you man
of blood, and
wicked fellow!
8 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!”
9 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.”
10 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?’ ”
11 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.
12 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.”
13 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.
14 The
king and all
the people who
were with
him arrived weary;
and he refreshed
himself there.
15 Absalom and
all the people,
the men of
Israel, came to
Jerusalem, and Ahithophel
with him.
16 When
Hushai the Archite,
David’s friend,
had come
to Absalom, Hushai said
to Absalom, “Long live
the king! Long
live the king!”
17 Absalom said
to Hushai, “Is
this your kindness
to your friend?
Why didn’t you go
with your friend?”
18 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.
19 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.”
20 Then Absalom
said to Ahithophel, “Give
your counsel what
we shall do.”
21 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.”
22 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.
23 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.