Ziba Meets David
1When David had gone a little way past the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2The king said to Ziba, “What is this for?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and the fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who grow weary in the wilderness to drink.” 3The king asked, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “He has stayed in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me.” 4The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5When King David reached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out cursing as he came. 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, though all the people and all the mighty men were at his right and his left. 7This is what Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8Yahweh has repaid you for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you became king, and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Now look, disaster has caught you, because you are a man of blood.” 9Abishai 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 business is this of mine or yours, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because Yahweh told him, ‘Curse David’ — then who can say, ‘Why are you doing this?’” 11David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my own son, who came from my own body, is seeking 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 upon my affliction, and Yahweh will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13So David and his men went on their way, while Shimei kept walking 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 weary, and there they refreshed themselves.
Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered 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 didn’t you go with your friend?” 18Hushai said to Absalom, “No — whoever Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will stay. 19And besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so I will be in yours.”
Ahithophel’s Counsel
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel — what should we do?” 21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to take care of the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father, and the hands of everyone with you will grow strong.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23In those days, the counsel Ahithophel gave was regarded as if a man had gone and inquired of God himself — that was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s counsel.
