2 Samuel 16
1 David had gone a little beyond the summit when Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, came to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys. On them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 The king asked Ziba, “What are you bringing these for?” Ziba replied, “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 anyone who grows weary in the wilderness to drink.”
3 The king asked, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba answered the king, “He has stayed in Jerusalem, because he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me.’”
4 The king said to Ziba, “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man from the family of Saul’s household came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out cursing.
6 He threw stones at David and all the servants of King David, though all the people and all the warriors were to David’s right and left.
7 As he cursed, Shimei said this: “Get out, get out, you murderer, you worthless man!
8 The LORD has brought down on you all the blood of Saul’s household, in whose place you became king, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Now you are caught in your own ruin, because you are a murderer.”
9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
10 The king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing, it is because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David.’ Who, then, can ask, ‘Why did you do that?’”
11 David said to Abishai and all his servants, “If my own son, who came from my body, is seeking my life, how much more this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, because the LORD has told him to.
12 Perhaps the LORD will look upon my distress, and the LORD will repay me with good for his curse today.”
13 David and his men went on along the road, while Shimei walked along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went, throwing stones toward him and raising dust.
14 The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, and he rested there.
15 Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 Absalom asked Hushai, “Is this how you show loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
18 Hushai answered Absalom, “No! I will belong to the one the LORD has chosen, this people, and all the men of Israel; with him I will remain.
19 And besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t it be his son? As I served your father, so I will serve you.”
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel answered Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to care for the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself detestable to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.”
22 They pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 In those days, the advice Ahithophel gave was like consulting the word of God; every piece of advice Ahithophel gave was regarded that way, both by David and by Absalom.
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