Chapter 16

  When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], 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 bottle of wine.  

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  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 such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.  

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  The king said, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.  

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  Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.  

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  When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.  

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  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.  

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  Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:  

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  Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.  

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

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  The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so?  

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  David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.  

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  It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day.  

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  So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.  

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  The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.  

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

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  It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, [Long] live the king, [Long] live the king.  

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  Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?  

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  Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.  

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  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 will I be in your presence.  

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  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.  

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  Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your father: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong.  

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

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  The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.  

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