Ziba Brings Supplies to David
Study note
As David passed over the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with donkeys loaded with bread, raisins, fruit, and wine. When David asked where Mephibosheth was, Ziba claimed that Mephibosheth had stayed in Jerusalem hoping to reclaim Saul's throne. David, without investigating the claim, gave all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba. Later in the story, Mephibosheth would tell a very different version of events.
1 David had barely passed the hilltop when Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, appeared. He had two saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 cakes of summer fruit, and a container of wine. 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.
2 The king asked, "What is all this for?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the royal household to ride. The bread and fruit are for the soldiers. The wine is for anyone who gets exhausted out in the wilderness." 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.
3 "And where is Mephibosheth, your master's grandson?" the king asked. Ziba told him, "He is staying in Jerusalem. He is expecting the people of Israel to hand his grandfather Saul's kingdom back to him today." 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.
4 The king declared, "In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you." Ziba bowed and said, "I am grateful, my lord the king. May I always find favor with you." 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.
Shimei Curses David
Study note
As David reached the town of Bahurim, a man named Shimei from Saul's family came out cursing David and throwing stones at him and his officials. Shimei accused David of being a murderer who had stolen Saul's throne. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, but David stopped him. David showed remarkable humility, saying that if his own son was trying to kill him, why should a relative of Saul's be stopped? David accepted the cursing as possibly coming from God and hoped the Lord would repay him with good for the suffering he endured.
5 When King David reached the village of Bahurim, a man from Saul's clan came storming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was hurling curses as he approached. 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.
6 Shimei threw stones at David and all the king's officials. He did this even though David had soldiers and bodyguards on both sides. 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.
7 Shimei shouted his curses: "Get out of here! Get lost, you murderer! You good-for-nothing!" And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8 "The Lord is making you pay for all the blood you spilled from Saul's family! You stole the throne from him, and now the Lord has handed it to your son Absalom. You are getting what you deserve because you are a killer!" 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.
9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this mangy dog be allowed to curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head!" 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 The king replied, "This is none of your concern, sons of Zeruiah. Maybe the Lord told him to curse me. If so, who has the right to question it?" 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 David told Abishai and his officials, "Look, my own son is trying to kill me. Why be surprised that this Benjaminite does the same? Leave him alone. Let him curse, since the Lord must have told him to." 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 "Maybe the Lord will see my suffering and give me something good in return for the curses I am taking today." 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 David and his men kept walking down the road. Shimei followed along the ridge across from them. He never stopped cursing, throwing rocks, and kicking up clouds of dust. 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 By the time the king and everyone with him reached their resting place, they were completely worn out. David stopped to recover his strength. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
Hushai Pretends to Serve Absalom
Study note
When Absalom and all the Israelites arrived in Jerusalem, Hushai greeted Absalom as king. Absalom was suspicious and asked why Hushai had not stayed with his friend David. Hushai cleverly responded that he would serve whoever the Lord and the people chose. His answer satisfied Absalom, and Hushai was accepted into the inner circle, positioning himself to undermine Ahithophel's advice.
15 In the meantime, Absalom marched into Jerusalem with all his Israelite supporters. Ahithophel was at his side. And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 When Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, came before Absalom, he called out, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 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 Absalom eyed him suspiciously. "This is how you repay your loyal friendship with David? Why did you not leave with him?" And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18 Hushai answered, "Not at all! I will serve whoever the Lord, the people, and all of Israel have chosen. I am staying with him." 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 "Think about it -- who should I serve if not the son of the king? Just as I served your father faithfully, I will now serve you." 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.
Ahithophel's Advice to Absalom
Study note
Ahithophel advised Absalom to publicly sleep with David's concubines on the palace rooftop. This was a deliberate act to show all Israel that Absalom had completely broken with his father. There could be no going back or reconciling after such an insult. This fulfilled the prophecy Nathan had given David after the Bathsheba incident. Ahithophel's advice was regarded as being as reliable as the word of God itself.
20 Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said, "What is your recommendation? What should we do?" Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21 Ahithophel said, "Sleep with your father's concubines. He left them behind to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have made yourself your father's enemy, everyone on your side will be even more loyal." 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 A tent was set up for Absalom on the palace rooftop. He slept with his father's concubines where all Israel could see. 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 In those days, any advice Ahithophel gave was treated as if God himself had spoken. Both David and Absalom held his counsel in that kind of regard. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.