1 W hen David had gone a short way past the mountain top, Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba met him with two donkeys ready for traveling. On them were 200 loaves of bread, 100 vines of dried grapes, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

Now when David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine.

2 T he king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for those of the king’s house to travel on. The bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine drink is for whoever is weak in the desert.”

The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “ The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3 T hen the king said, “Where is your owner’s son?” And Ziba answered, “He is staying in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘Today the family of Israel will return to me the nation of my father.’”

Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’”

4 S o the king said to Ziba, “See, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I bow down in honor to you. O my lord the king, let me find favor in your eyes!” David and Shimei

So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!” David Is Cursed

5 W hen King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of Saul. His name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He did not stop speaking bad things as he came.

When King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out cursing continually as he came.

6 H e threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the strong men were at his right and at his left.

He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7 S himei said as he said bad things, “Get out! Get out, you man of blood, you man of no worth!

Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 T he Lord has punished you for all the blood of the family of Saul, in whose place you have ruled! The Lord has given the nation to your son Absalom! Your trouble is upon you, because you are a man of blood!”

The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Z eruiah’s son Abishai said to the king, “Why should this dead dog speak against my lord the king? Let me go now and cut off his head.”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head.”

10 B ut the king said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he speaks against me, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Speak against David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

But the king said, “ What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 T hen David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See, my own son wants to kill me. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him speak against me, for the Lord has told him.

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.

12 I t may be that the Lord will look upon my trouble and return good to me instead of his bad words today.”

Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”

13 S o David and his men went on the way. And Shimei went beside him on the hill. He spoke against David as he went, and threw stones and dust at him.

So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.

14 T he king and all the people with him were tired when they came to the Jordan. There he rested and received new strength. Absalom Goes to Jerusalem

The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there. Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15 A bsalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came into Jerusalem. And Ahithophel was with him.

Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 W hen David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Now it came about when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “ Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 A nd Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 H ushai said to Absalom, “No! I will belong to whoever is chosen by the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel.

Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19 A nd whom should I serve? Should I not serve his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

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

20 T hen Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your wise words. What should we do?”

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?”

21 A hithophel answered, “Go in to your father’s women, whom he has left to take care of the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made stronger.”

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “ Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”

22 S o they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s women so that the eyes of all Israel could see.

So 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 T he words that Ahithophel spoke in those days were as if one had asked for the Word of God. Both David and Absalom thought of Ahithophel’s words in this way.

The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.