Chapter 16
David and Ziba. 1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, he was met by Ziba, the servant of Meribbaal. Ziba had with him a pair of saddled donkeys laden with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred bunches of summer fruits, and one skin of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba: “What are you planning to do with these?” Ziba replied: “The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride on, the bread and the fruit are for the soldiers to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who fall exhausted in the desert.”
3 The king then asked: “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba replied: “He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said: ‘Today the house of Israel will restore to me my father’s kingdom.’ ” 4 Therefore, the king said to Ziba: “Everything that belonged to Meribbaal is yours.” Then Ziba replied: “I humbly pay you homage, my lord the king. May I always be considered to be worthy of being granted your favor.”
David and Shimei. 5 As King David was nearing Horonaim, he was approached by a man of the family of Saul. His name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and he was cursing as he drew near. 6 He threw stones at David and his servants, as well as at all the people and the soldiers on his right and on his left.
7 As he cursed, Shimei shouted: “Get out, get out, you murderous scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid all of you for the blood of the house of Saul whose sovereignty you have stolen, and the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Now your wickedness has caught up with you, for you are a man of blood.”
9 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king: “Why should this dead dog be allowed to curse my lord the king? Let me go over and behead him.” 10 However, the king said: “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord told him: ‘Curse David,’ who will then dare to say: ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 Then David said to Abishai and all his servants: “If my own son who was conceived from my loins is now seeking my life, how much more understandable is it that this Benjaminite is prepared to do so! Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has instructed him to do so. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look upon my wretched condition and grant me a blessing to repay me for the curses that I have been forced to endure this day.”
13 Therefore, David and his men resumed their journey, while Shimei kept abreast of him on the opposite hillside, cursing as he went and throwing stones and flinging dust at him. 14 When the king and all the people with him reached the Jordan, they stopped there to rest, for they were exhausted.
15 Absalom’s Counselors.[a] Meanwhile Absalom and all of the Israelites entered Jerusalem, and accompanying him was Ahithophel. 16 Then Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, approached Absalom and said to him: “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Then Absalom asked Hushai: “Is this the way you show loyalty to your friend?” 18 Hushai replied to Absalom: “I intend to follow the man whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, and I will remain with him. 19 Besides, whom should I serve if not his son? Just as I served your father, so will I serve you.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel: “Give us your counsel on what you think we should do.” 21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom: “Go to your father’s concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace and have relations with them. As a result, all Israel will hear that you have greatly antagonized your father, and the courage of all your supporters will be strengthened.” 22 Therefore, a tent was pitched for Absalom upon the roof, and in the sight of all Israel Absalom lay with his father’s concubines.
23 Counsel of Ahithophel. Now in those days the counsel offered by Ahithophel was regarded as counsel presented by God himself. And that was how the counsel of Ahithophel was regarded by both David and Absalom.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 16:15 Absalom takes up residence in Jerusalem and officially takes over his father’s concubines, but this is a wicked act (see Gen 49:4). It is a mockery of David; Nathan had foretold this supreme humiliation as a consequence of his sin (2 Sam 12:11-12).