Chapter 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 favour 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 enquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this both with David and with Absalom.