2 Samuel 16

1 And when Dawid 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 a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, “What meanest you 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 the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said unto the king, “Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim); for he said, ‘Today shall the house of Yisrael restore me the kingdom of my father.’”

4 Then said the king to Ziba, “Behold, your are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth.” And Ziba said, “I humbly beseech you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord (adoni), O king!”

5 And when King Dawid 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 And he cast stones at Dawid, and at all the servants of king Dawid; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed: ‘Come out! Come out, you bloody man, and you worthless man!

8 יהוה hath returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and יהוה hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Avshalom your son; and, behold, you are taken in your mischief, because you are a bloody man!”

9 Then said Avishai the son of Tseruyah unto the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord (adoni) the king? Please let me go over and take off his head!”

10 And the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Tseruyah? So let him curse, because יהוה hath said unto him, ‘Curse Dawid.’ Who shall then say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 And Dawid said to Avishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life; how much more now may this Benjamin (Binyamin) do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for יהוה hath bidden him.

12 It may be that יהוה will look on mine affliction, and that יהוה will requite me good for his cursing this day.”

13 And as Dawid and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 And Avshalom, and all the people the men of Yisrael, came to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), and Ahithophel with him.

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, Dawid’s friend, was come unto Avshalom, that Hushai said unto Avshalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 And Avshalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why wentest you not with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said unto Avshalom, “Nay, but whom יהוה, and this people, and all the men of Yisrael, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19 And again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

20 Then said Avshalom to Ahithophel, “Give counsel among you what we shall do.”

21 And Ahithophel said unto Avshalom, “Go in unto your father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Yisrael shall hear that you are abhorred of your father; then shall the hands of all that are with you be strong.”

22 So they spread Avshalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Avshalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Yisrael.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God (Elohim); so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with Dawid and with Avshalom.