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David y Siba

16 Un poco más allá de la cumbre del monte, David se encontró con Siba, el criado de Mefiboset, que llevaba un par de asnos aparejados y cargados con doscientos panes, cien tortas de uvas pasas, cien tortas de higos y un odre de vino.

―¿Qué vas a hacer con todo esto? —le preguntó el rey.

Siba respondió:

―Los asnos son para que monte la familia del rey, el pan y la fruta son para que coman los soldados, y el vino es para que beban los que desfallezcan en el desierto.

Entonces el rey le preguntó:

―¿Dónde está el nieto de tu amo?

―Se quedó en Jerusalén —respondió Siba—. Él se imagina que ahora la nación de Israel le va a devolver el reino de su abuelo.

―Bueno —replicó el rey—, todo lo que antes fue de Mefiboset ahora es tuyo.

―¡A tus pies, mi señor y rey! —exclamó Siba—. ¡Que cuente yo siempre con tu favor!

Simí maldice a David

Cuando el rey David llegó a Bajurín, salía de allí un hombre de la familia de Saúl, llamado Simí hijo de Guerá. Este se puso a maldecir, y a tirarles piedras a David y a todos sus oficiales, a pesar de que las tropas y la guardia real rodeaban al rey. En sus insultos, Simí le decía al rey:

―¡Largo de aquí! ¡Asesino! ¡Canalla! El Señor te está dando tu merecido por haber masacrado a la familia de Saúl para reinar en su lugar. Por eso el Señor le ha entregado el reino a tu hijo Absalón. Has caído en desgracia, porque eres un asesino.

Abisay hijo de Sarvia le dijo al rey:

―¿Cómo se atreve este perros muerto a maldecir a mi señor el rey? ¡Déjame que vaya y le corte la cabeza!

10 Pero el rey respondió:

―Esto no es asunto mío ni vuestro, hijos de Sarvia. A lo mejor el Señor le ha ordenado que me maldiga. Y, si es así, ¿quién se lo puede reprochar?

11 Dirigiéndose a Abisay y a todos sus oficiales, David añadió:

―Si el hijo de mis entrañas intenta quitarme la vida, ¡qué no puedo esperar de este benjaminita! Dejadlo que me maldiga, pues el Señor se lo ha mandado. 12 A lo mejor el Señor tiene en cuenta mi aflicción y me paga con bendiciones las maldiciones que estoy recibiendo.

13 David y sus hombres reanudaron el viaje. Simí, por su parte, los seguía por la ladera del monte, maldiciendo a David, tirándole piedras y levantando polvo. 14 El rey y quienes lo acompañaban llegaron agotados a su destino, así que descansaron allí.

El consejo de Husay y Ajitofel

15 Mientras tanto, Absalón y todos los israelitas que lo seguían habían entrado en Jerusalén; también Ajitofel lo acompañaba. 16 Entonces Husay el arquita, amigo de David, fue a ver a Absalón y exclamó:

―¡Viva el rey! ¡Viva el rey!

17 Absalón le preguntó:

―¿Así muestras tu lealtad a tu amigo? ¿Cómo es que no te fuiste con él?

18 ―De ningún modo —respondió Husay—. Soy más bien amigo del elegido del Señor, elegido también por este pueblo y por todos los israelitas. Así que yo me quedo contigo. 19 Además, ¿a quién voy a servir? Serviré al hijo, como antes serví al padre.

20 Luego le dijo Absalón a Ajitofel:

―Poneos a pensar en lo que debemos hacer.

21 Ajitofel le respondió:

―Acuéstate con las concubinas que tu padre dejó al cuidado del palacio. De ese modo todos los israelitas se darán cuenta de que has roto con tu padre, y quienes te apoyan a ti se fortalecerán en el poder.

22 Entonces instalaron una tienda de campaña en la azotea para que Absalón se acostara con las concubinas de su padre a la vista de todos los israelitas. 23 En aquella época, recibir el consejo de Ajitofel era como oír la palabra misma de Dios, y esto era así tanto para David como para Absalón.

David and Ziba

16 (A)When David had gone a little beyond the top of the hill, he was suddenly met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a couple of donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred bunches of fresh fruit, and a leather bag full of wine. King David asked him, “What are you going to do with all that?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for Your Majesty's family to ride, the bread and the fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is for them to drink when they get tired in the wilderness.”

(B)“Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your master Saul?” the king asked him.

“He is staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba answered, “because he is convinced that the Israelites will now restore to him the kingdom of his grandfather Saul.”

The king said to Ziba, “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours.”

“I am your servant,” Ziba replied. “May I always please Your Majesty!”

David and Shimei

When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul's relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came. Shimei started throwing stones at David and his officials, even though David was surrounded by his men and his bodyguards. Shimei cursed him and said, “Get out! Get out! Murderer! Criminal! You took Saul's kingdom, and now the Lord is punishing you for murdering so many of Saul's family. The Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom, and you are ruined, you murderer!”

Abishai, whose mother was Zeruiah, said to the king, “Your Majesty, why do you let this dog curse you? Let me go over there and cut off his head!”

10 “This is none of your business,” the king said to Abishai and his brother Joab. “If he curses me because the Lord told him to, who has the right to ask why he does it?” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his officials, “My own son is trying to kill me; so why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? The Lord told him to curse; so leave him alone and let him do it. 12 Perhaps the Lord will notice my misery[a] and give me some blessings to take the place of his curse.” 13 So David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them, walking on the hillside; he was cursing and throwing stones and dirt at them as he went. 14 The king and all his men were worn out when they reached the Jordan,[b] and there they rested.

Absalom in Jerusalem

15 Absalom and all the Israelites with him entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them. 16 When Hushai, David's trusted friend, met Absalom, he shouted, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 “What has happened to your loyalty to your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why didn't you go with him?”

18 Hushai answered, “How could I? I am for the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the Israelites. I will stay with you. 19 After all, whom should I serve, if not my master's son? As I served your father, so now I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said, “Now that we are here, what do you advise us to do?”

21 Ahithophel answered, “Go and have intercourse with your father's concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace. Then everyone in Israel will know that your father regards you as his enemy, and your followers will be greatly encouraged.” 22 (C)So they set up a tent for Absalom on the palace roof, and in the sight of everyone Absalom went in and had intercourse with his father's concubines.

23 Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God; both David and Absalom followed it.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:12 Some ancient translations misery; Hebrew wickedness.
  2. 2 Samuel 16:14 One ancient translation the Jordan; Hebrew does not have these words.

David and Ziba

16 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba,(A) the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.(B)

The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh(C) those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”(D)

Ziba(E) said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth(F) is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

As King David approached Bahurim,(G) a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei(H) son of Gera, and he cursed(I) as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.(J) The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”(K)

Then Abishai(L) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(M) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(N)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(O) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(P)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(Q) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(R) 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery(S) and restore to me his covenant blessing(T) instead of his curse today.(U)

13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted.(V) And there he refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

15 Meanwhile, Absalom(W) and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel(X) was with him. 16 Then Hushai(Y) the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”(Z)

18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”(AA)

20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 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.(AB)

23 Now in those days the advice(AC) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David(AD) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

16 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Mephibosheth’s Servant

16 When(A) David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was (B)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?”

So 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 (C)those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”

Then the king said, “And where is your (D)master’s son?”

(E)And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”

So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”

And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”

Shimei Curses David

Now when King David came to (F)Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was (G)Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You [a]bloodthirsty man, (H)you [b]rogue! The Lord has (I)brought upon you all (J)the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a [c]bloodthirsty man!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this (K)dead dog (L)curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

10 But the king said, (M)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because (N)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ (O)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how (P)my son who (Q)came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on [d]my affliction, and that the Lord will (R)repay me with (S)good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and [e]kicked up dust. 14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

The Advice of Ahithophel

15 Meanwhile (T)Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. 16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, (U)David’s friend, came to Absalom, that (V)Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? (W)Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Furthermore, (X)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to (Y)Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s (Z)concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you (AA)are abhorred by your father. Then (AB)the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines (AC)in the sight of all Israel.

23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel (AD)both with David and with Absalom.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:7 Lit. man of bloodshed
  2. 2 Samuel 16:7 worthless man
  3. 2 Samuel 16:8 Lit. man of bloodshed
  4. 2 Samuel 16:12 So with Kt., LXX, Syr., Vg.; Qr. my eyes; Tg. tears of my eyes
  5. 2 Samuel 16:13 Lit. dusted him with dust