2 Samuel 16
He Let the Man Curse Him and Did Not Answer
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Ziba Meets David
16:1David had passed a little beyond Roos when Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met him with a pair of loaded donkeys. On them were two hundred loaves, a hundred raisins, a hundred dates, and a vessel of wine.
16:2The king said to Ziba, “What are these for?” Ziba said, “The pack animals are for the king’s household to ride; the bread and dates are for the young men to eat; the wine is for those who grow faint in the wilderness to drink.”
16:3The king said, “Where is your lord’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me.’”
16:4The king said to Ziba, “Everything belonging to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba bowed down and said, “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
16:5King David came to Bahurim. A man from the kin of Saul’s house was coming out from there, named Shimei son of Gera. He came out, continually cursing,
16:6throwing stones at David and all King David’s servants, while all the people and all the powerful men were at the king’s right and left.
16:7Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, man of bloodshed, lawless man!
16:8The Lord has brought back upon you all the blood of Saul’s house, because you became king in his place. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. Now you are in calamity, because you are a man of bloodshed.”
16:9Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will cross over and take off his head.”
16:10The king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Leave him alone, and let him curse this way, because the Lord has told him to curse David. Who can say, ‘Why have you done this?’”
16:11David said to Abishai and all his servants, “My own son, who came from my belly, seeks my life. And now this son of the Benjaminite as well! Leave him alone to curse, for the Lord has told him.
16:12Perhaps the Lord will look upon my humiliation and repay me with good things in place of his curse this day.”
16:13David and his men went along the road. Shimei went along the mountainside beside him, walking and cursing, throwing stones from his flank and showering dust.
16:14The king and all his people arrived exhausted, and they refreshed themselves there.
Hushai Comes to Absalom
16:15Absalom and every man of Israel entered Jerusalem, with Ahithophel beside him.
16:16When Hushai the Archite, David’s companion, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king!”
16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your mercy toward your companion? Why did you not depart with your companion?”
16:18Hushai said to Absalom, “No. From now on I will belong to the one whom the Lord, this people, and every man of Israel have chosen, and I will stay with him.
16:19And secondly, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I served before your father, so I will be before you.”
The Counsel of Ahithophel
16:20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Bring forward your counsel about what we should do.”
16:21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to guard his house. All Israel will hear that you have disgraced your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.”
16:22They pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines before the eyes of all Israel.
16:23The counsel Ahithophel gave in former days was regarded as though one had inquired of God’s word. So was all Ahithophel’s counsel, both to David and to Absalom.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.