16:1 When David had crossed over a little ways, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred summer fruits, and a flask of wine.

16:2 The king asked Ziba, “What are these things that you have?” Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride on, and the loaves of bread¹ and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat and the wine is for those who are weary from the desert to drink.” 16:3 The king asked, “And where is the son of your lord?” Ziba replied to the king, “He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will return to me the kingdom of my father.’” 16:4 The king said to Ziba, “Everything that was Mephibosheth’s now belongs to you.” Ziba replied, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

16:5 Then king David came² to Bahurim. There was a man from the same family as the house of Saul coming out from there whose name was Shimei the son of Gera. As he went forth he was uttering curses. 16:6 He pelted David and all of king David’s servants with stones, along with all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left. 16:7 As he cursed Shimei said, “Go! Go! You man of blood, you worthless fellow! 16:8 The LORD has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. Disaster has found you out, for you are a man of blood!”

16:9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me cross over and cut off his head!”

16:10 But the king said, “What common ground do we share, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you acted in this way?’”

16:11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My very son, who came from my own loins, is seeking my life. So also now this Benjamite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the LORD has spoken to him. 16:12 Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction,³ and the LORD will return to me good in place of his cursing this day.”

16:13 So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei was going along the side of the hill opposite him, cursing and pelting them with stones as he went opposite them. He repeatedly was hurling dirt at them. 16:14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived very weary. But he refreshed himself there.

16:15 Now Absalom and all the men⁴ of Israel went to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16:16 When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

16:18 Hushai replied to Absalom, “No, for the one whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be for him⁵ and I will stay with him. 16:19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I shall serve you.”

16:20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your counsel. What should we do?” 16:21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with⁶ the concubines of your father whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive with your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will thereby be strengthened.” 16:22 So they pitched the tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went to the concubines of his father in the sight of all Israel.

16:23 Now the counsel of Ahithophel whereby he advised in those days was as one⁷ might inquire of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel in the estimation of both David and Absalom.