2 Samuel 16

VIN(i) 1 When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits and a skin of wine. 2 The king asked Ziba, "What are those for?" Ziba replied, "The donkey's are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whomever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness." 3 "Where is your master Saul's grandson?" The king asked. "He stayed in Jerusalem," said Ziba. He said: "Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom." 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.” 5 And King David came to Bahurim. And, behold, a man of the house of Saul came out from there, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and he came cursing. 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 Shimei cursed him and said: "Get out! Get out you murderer! 8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. Look, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood." 9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king: "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head!" 10 The king said, "What do we have in common, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him 'Curse David,' who can say, "Why have you done this?" 11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Look, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me for his cursing today." 13 So David and his men went by the way, and Shimei went along on the hill-side opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14 The king and all the people with him finally arrived at their destination and rested there. 15 And Absalom and the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 Then Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom and said, Long life to the king, long life to the king! 17 Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend? 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom the LORD and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and I will stay with him. 19 And secondly, to whom shall I serve? Should I not serve before his son? Just as I served before your father, so I will be before you. 20 And Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your advice. What shall we do? 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." 22 And 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 Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God. David and Absalom followed it.