2 Samuel 16

1When David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him, with a pair of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2Then the king said to Ziba, “What are these for?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for the weary in the wilderness to drink.”

3Then the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Look, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.’”

4Then the king said to Ziba, “Look, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I bow down; may I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

5When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man came out from there, from the clan of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out continually, cursing as he came.

6And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, while all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7And Shimei said as he cursed him, “Get out, get out, man of bloodshed and worthless man!”

8Yahweh has brought back upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you reigned, and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And look, you are in your calamity, 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? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who can say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son, who came out from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for Yahweh has told him to.”

12Perhaps Yahweh will look on my affliction, and Yahweh will repay me with good in place of his cursing this day.

13So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, going along and cursing, and throwing stones opposite him and flinging dust.

14The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary, and they refreshed themselves there.

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

16And when 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, for the one whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen—I will be his, and with him I will remain.”

19And secondly, whom should I serve? Should it not be before his son? As I served before your father, so I will be before you.

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

21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have become odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

22So they pitched the tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23The counsel of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if one inquired of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.