2 Samuel 16

1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, was there to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys. On them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a skin of wine.

2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who grows faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3The king asked, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my father’s kingdom.’”

4Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

5As King David came to Bahurim, a man from the family of Saul’s house came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he kept cursing as he came.

6He threw stones at David and at all of King David’s servants, though all the people and all the warriors were on David’s right and on his left.

7This is what Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you worthless man!

8Yahweh has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and Yahweh has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look at you now, caught in your own evil, because you are a man of bloodshed!”

9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10But the king said, “What do I have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? He curses like this because Yahweh has told him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then can ask, ‘Why have you done this?’”

11David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has told him to.

12Perhaps Yahweh will look on my distress, and Yahweh will repay me with good for his cursing today.”

13So David and his men went on their way, while Shimei went along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went, throwing stones at him, and flinging dust.

14The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, and he rested there.

15Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

16When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

18Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will stay.

19Besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father, and all who are with you will be strengthened.”

22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23In those days the advice Ahithophel gave was treated as if someone had inquired of the word of God. That is how all of Ahithophel’s advice was regarded, both by David and by Absalom.