Ziba Meets David with Provisions
16 1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a pair of saddled donkeys carrying two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a wineskin of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for whoever grows faint in the wilderness to drink."
3 The king asked, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my father's kingdom.'"
4 Then the king said to Ziba, "All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." Ziba said, "I bow before you. May I find favor with you, my lord the king."
Shimei Curses the Fleeing King
5 As King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei son of Gera, from Saul's family, came out cursing as he went. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, though all the people and all the mighty warriors were on his right and on his left.
7 This is what Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you worthless man! 8 Our Father has brought back upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and our Father has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Now you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed." 1 1 v8 Even cursing, Shimei can only appeal to the Father — yet he paints him as a cold avenger, the lie about the Father's heart that David's quiet trust answers.
9 Then 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."
10 But the king said, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because our Father has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then can say, 'Why have you done this?'"
11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for our Father has told him to. 12 Perhaps our Father will look on my misery and repay me with good for the cursing I receive this day."
13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei kept pace on the hillside across from him, cursing as he went, throwing stones at him and flinging dust. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived weary, and there he refreshed himself.
Absalom Enters Jerusalem and Receives Counsel
15 Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No, for the one whom our Father and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen — I will be his, and with him I will stay. 19 And further, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I served your father, so I will serve you."
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your counsel. What should we do?"
21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubines, whom he left to look after the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and all who are with you will be emboldened."
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 In those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was like consulting our Father directly; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.