2 Samuel 16

1 And David had gone on a little way past Roos when Ziba, the servant of Memphibosthe, came to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred cakes of dates, and a skin of wine. [a] 2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, and the loaves and the dates are food for the young men, and the wine is for those worn out in the wilderness to drink.”

3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And 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 And the king said to Ziba, “Everything that belongs to Memphibosthe is yours.” And Ziba bowed down and said, “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

5 And king David came to Bahurim; and a man of the family of the house of Saul was coming out from there, and his name was Shimei son of Gera. He came out cursing as he went, [c] 6 and throwing stones at David and at all the servants of king David — and all the people and all the mighty men were on the king’s right hand and on his left. 7 And this is what Shimei said as he cursed him: “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you lawless man! [d] 8 The Lord has turned back on you all the blood of the house of Saul, because you reigned in his place; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And look — here you are in your own evil, because you are a man of blood.”

9 And Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why is this dead dog cursing my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 And the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Leave him alone, and let him curse, because the Lord has told him to curse David; and who is to say, ‘Why have you done this?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look — my own son, who came out of my body, is seeking my life; how much more now this son of Benjamin. Leave him alone and let him curse, because the Lord has told him to. [e] 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my humiliation and give me back good in place of his cursing this day.”

13 And David and his men went on along the road, and Shimei went along the side of the hill alongside him, walking and cursing and throwing stones at him from the slope and flinging dust. 14 And the king came, and all the people with him, worn out; and they refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom and every man of Israel entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s companion, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king!” [f] 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your mercy to your companion? Why did you not go out with your companion?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No — but the one whom the Lord and this people and every man of Israel have chosen, him I will follow; his I will be, and with him I will stay. 19 And besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be in the presence of his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so I will be in yours.”

20 And Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Take counsel among yourselves about what we should do.” 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to keep his house; and all Israel will hear that you have shamed your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 And they pitched the tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. [g] 23 And the counsel Ahithophel gave in those earlier days was as if a man had inquired by the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both to David and to Absalom.