[1] 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. [2] 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. [3]
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. [4] 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. [5] 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.
[6] 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] Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood,
and base fellow: [8] 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. [9] 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." [10] 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? [11] 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. [12] 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.
[13] 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. [14] The king, and all the people who were with him, came
weary; and he refreshed himself there. [15] Absalom, and all the people,
the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. [16] 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.
[17] Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why
didn`t you go with your friend? [18] 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. [19] 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. [20] Then said Absalom to
Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do. [21] 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. [22] 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. [23] 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.