Ziba, a False Servant
1 When David was a little past the summit [of the Mount of Olives], behold, Ziba, the servant ofMephibosheth, met him with a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and ajug of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household (family) to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weary in the wilderness.”
3 Then the king said, “And where is yourmaster’s son [Mephibosheth]?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of myfather.’”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is [now] yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down [in honor and gratitude]; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord the king.”
David Is Cursed
5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was cursing continually as he came out.
6 He threw stones at David and at all theservants of King David; yet all the people and all the warriorsremainedon his right and on his left.
7 This is what Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you worthlessanduseless man!
8 The Lordhas returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lordhas given the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. And behold, you arecaughtin your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Then Abishai [David’s nephew], the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog (despicable person) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”
10 But the king said, “What business is this of yours, O sons of Zeruiah? If Shimei is cursing because the Lordsaid to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son [Absalom] who came from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more [reason] now [does] this Benjamite [have to curse me]? Let him alone and let him curse, for [it could be that] the Lordhas told him [to do it].
12 Perhaps the Lordwill look on the wrong done to me [by Shimei, if he is acting on his own]; and [in that case perhaps] the Lord will this day return good to me in place of his cursing.”
13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei went along on the hillside close beside David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.
14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived [at the Jordan River] weary, and he refreshed himself there.
Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15 Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 Now it happened when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Longlive the king!Longlive 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 whomever the Lordand this people and all the men of Israel have chosen [as king], I will be his, and I will remain with him.
19 Besides, whom should I serve?Should Inotservein the presence of David’s son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall serve in your presence.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Givemeyour advice. What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’sconcubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened [by your boldness and audacity].”
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof [of the king’s palace], andAbsalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had consulted the word of God; that is how all Ahithophel’s counsel wasregardedby both David and Absalom.