2 Samuel 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
David’s Adversaries
16 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred of summer fruits, and one skin of wine.(A) 2 The king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who faint in the wilderness.”(B) 3 The king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”(C) 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out cursing.(D) 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7 Shimei shouted while he cursed, “Out! Out! Murderer! Scoundrel!(E) 8 The Lord has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of blood.”(F)
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 take off his head.”(G) 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”(H) 11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him.(I) 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my distress,[a] and the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.”(J) 13 So David and his men went on the road while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him. 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan,[b] and there he refreshed himself.
The Counsel of Ahithophel
15 Now Absalom and all the Israelites[c] came to Jerusalem; Ahithophel was with him.(K) 16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”(L) 17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”(M) 18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but the one whom the Lord and this people and all the Israelites have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I have served your father, so I will serve you.”(N)
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your counsel; what shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, the ones he has left to look after the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”(O) 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.(P) 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle[d] of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.(Q)
2 Samuel 16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ziba Helps David
16 When David had gone a little beyond the summit,[a] Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant,(A) was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a skin of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the desert.”
3 “Where is your master’s grandson?” the king asked.
“Why, he’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’”
4 The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”(B)
“I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May you look favorably on me, my lord the king!”
Shimei Curses David
5 When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera,(C) and he was yelling curses as he approached. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the royal[b] servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left. 7 Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you worthless murderer! 8 The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a murderer!”
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(D) curse my lord the king?(E) Let me go over and cut his head off!”
10 The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?(F) He curses(G) me this way because the Lord[c] told him, ‘Curse David!’ Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood,[d] intends to take my life(H)—how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to. 12 Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction[e] and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today.” 13 So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, and threw stones and dirt at him. 14 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived[f] exhausted, so they rested there.
Absalom’s Advisers
15 Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. 16 When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”(I)
17 “Is this your loyalty to your friend?” Absalom asked Hushai. “Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
18 “Not at all,” Hushai answered Absalom. “I am on the side of the one that the Lord, the people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him. 19 Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”(J)
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines he left to take care of the palace.(K) When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.(L)
23 Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God(M)—such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 16:1 = Mount of Olives
- 2 Samuel 16:6 Lit all King David’s
- 2 Samuel 16:10 Alt Hb tradition reads If he curses, and if the Lord
- 2 Samuel 16:11 Lit son who came from my belly
- 2 Samuel 16:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; one Hb tradition reads iniquity; alt Hb tradition reads eyes; ancient Jewish tradition reads will look with His eye
- 2 Samuel 16:14 LXX adds at the Jordan
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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