2 Samuel 16
16
David and Ziba
1When David had passed a little beyond the summit, # 2Sa 15:32 Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of saddled donkeys carrying two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and one skin of wine. # 1Sa 25:18
2The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these things?”
Ziba replied, “The donkeys # Jdg 10:4 are for the household of the king to ride. The bread and the summer fruit are for the servants to eat. The wine is for those who become weary in the wilderness to drink.” # 2Sa 17:29
3The king said, “And where is your master’s son?”
Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today they will return to me the house of Israel and my father’s kingdom.’ ” # 2Sa 9:9–10
4Then David said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
Ziba replied, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5When King David came to Bahurim, # 2Sa 3:16 a man of the family of the house of Saul came out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out continuously cursing. # Ex 22:28 6He threw stones at David and all of the servants of King David, as well as all of the people and all of the warriors who were at his right and left. 7Shimei said when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, # 2Sa 12:9 you scoundrel! 8The Lord has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, # Jdg 9:24 in whose place you have reigned. And the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. You are taken in your own evil, because you are a man of blood.” # 2Sa 1:16
9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “How can this dead dog # 2Sa 9:8 curse my lord the king! # Ex 22:28 Let me go over and remove his head.”
10The king responded, “What do you have against me, sons of Zeruiah? # 2Sa 19:22 Suppose that he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who shall then say, ‘Why do you do so?’ ” # Ro 9:20
11David then said to Abishai and to all of his servants, “Behold, my son who came from my own body seeks my life, and now also this Benjamite. Leave him alone and let him curse if the Lord has so instructed him. 12Perhaps today the Lord will look upon my guilt and return kindness instead of his cursing.” # Dt 23:5; Ro 8:28
13So David and his men continued on the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside beside them, cursing, throwing stones, and flinging dust at them as he went. 14The king and all of the people who were with him arrived at their destination exhausted, but he refreshed himself there.
The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai
15Now Absalom and all of the Israelite people entered Jerusalem, # 2Sa 15:37 and Ahithophel was with him. 16When Hushai the Arkite, the friend of David, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” # 1Sa 10:24; 2Ki 11:12
17Then Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this the extent of your commitment to your friend? Why have you not gone with your friend?” # 2Sa 19:25
18Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom the Lord, this people, and all men of Israel have chosen, his I will be and with him I will remain. 19Furthermore, whom shall I serve? Should it not be his son? As I served your father, so shall I be with you.” # 2Sa 15:34
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?”
21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Lie with your father’s concubines, # 2Sa 15:16; 20:3 whom he left to watch over the palace. When all Israel hears that you have made yourself abhorred by your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” 22So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all of Israel. # 2Sa 12:11–12; 15:16
23In those days, the advice that Ahithophel gave was as when one inquired a word from God. Such was all of the advice of Ahithophel, # 2Sa 15:12; 17:14 whether that which he gave to David or to Absalom.
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2 Samuel 16: MEV
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.
2 Samuel 16
16
Ziba Helps David
1When David had gone a little beyond the summit,#16:1 = Mount of Olives Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant,#2Sm 9:12 was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a clay jar of wine. 2The 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 wilderness.”
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.’”#2Sm 19:26–27
4The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” #2Sm 9:3–11
“I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May I find favor with you, my lord the king!”
Shimei Curses David
5When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out.#2Sm 3:16 His name was Shimei son of Gera,#2Sm 19:16; 1Kg 2:8–9,36–46 and he was yelling curses as he approached. 6He threw stones at David and at all the royal#16:6 Lit all King David’s servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left. 7Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man!#Ex 22:28 8The 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 man of bloodshed!”
9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog#1Sm 24:14; 2Sm 9:8 curse my lord the king?#Ex 22:28 Let me go over and remove his head!”
10The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?#2Sm 3:39; 19:22 He curses#1Sm 17:43; 2Sm 16:5; Ec 7:21–22 me this way because the Lord#16:10 Alt Hb tradition reads If he curses, and if the Lord told him, ‘Curse David! ’ #2Sm 12:11 Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that? ’” 11Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood,#16:11 Lit son who came from my belly intends to take my life#2Sm 12:10–11 — how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to. 12Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction#16:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; one Hb tradition reads iniquity; alt Hb tradition reads eyes; another Hb tradition reads will look with his eye and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today.” 13So 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, threw stones at him, and kicked up dust. 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived#16:14 LXX adds at the Jordan exhausted, so they rested there.
Absalom’s Advisers
15Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. 16When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” #1Sm 10:24; 1Kg 1:25; 2Kg 11:12
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, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him. 19Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”#2Sm 15:34
20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?”
21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace.#2Sm 15:16; 20:3 When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.”#16:21 Lit father, the hands of everyone with you will be strong 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.#2Sm 12:11–12
23Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God#2Sm 15:12 — such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
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