1 When David was a little past the top,
behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth
met him with a couple of donkeys saddled,
and on them two hundred loaves of bread,
and one hundred clusters of raisins, and
one hundred summer fruits, and a container
of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, “What do you
mean by these?”
Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s
household to ride on; and the bread and
summer fruit for the young men to eat; and
the wine, that those who are faint in the
wilderness may drink.”
3 The king said, “Where is your master’s
son?”
Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying
in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the
house of Israel will restore me the kingdom
of my father.’ ”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all
that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”
Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find
favour in your sight, my lord, O king.”
5 When King David came to Bahurim,
behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house
came out, whose name was Shimei, the son
of Gera. He came out and cursed as he
came.
6 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.
7 Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone,
be gone, you man of blood, and wicked
fellow!
8 The LORD has returned on you all the
blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you
have reigned! The LORD has delivered the
kingdom into the hand of Absalom your
son! Behold, you are caught by your own
mischief, because you are a man of blood!”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to
the king, “Why should this dead dog curse
my lord the king? Please let me go over and
take off his head.”
10 The king said, “What have I to do
with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because
he curses, and because the LORD has said
to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say,
‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 David said to Abishai and to all his
servants, “Behold, my son, who came out
of my bowels, seeks my life. How much
more this Benjamite, now? Leave him
alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has
invited him.
12 It may be that the LORD will look on
the wrong done to me, and that the LORD
will repay me good for the cursing of me
today.”
13 So David and his men went by the
way; and Shimei went along on the hillside
opposite him and cursed as he went, threw
stones at him, and threw dust.
14 The king and all the people who were
with him arrived weary; and he refreshed
himself there.
15 Absalom and all the people, the men of
Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel
with him.
16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s
friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said
to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live
the king!”
17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your
kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you
go with your friend?”
18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but
whomever the LORD and this people and
all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be
his, and I will stay with him.
19 Again, whom should I serve?
Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his
son? As I have served in your father’s
presence, so I will be in your presence.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel,
“Give your counsel what we shall do.”
21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to
your father’s concubines that he has left
to keep the house. Then all Israel will
hear that you are abhorred by your father.
Then the hands of all who are with you will
be strong.”
22 So they spread a tent for Absalom on
the top of the house, and Absalom went in
to his father’s concubines in the sight of all
Israel.
23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he
gave in those days, was as if a man enquired
at the inner sanctuary of God. All
the counsel of Ahithophel was like this
both with David and with Absalom.
