The Second Book of Samuel

2Sa 16:1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Zi´-ba the servant of Me-phib´-o-sheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2Sa 16:2 And the king said unto Zi´-ba, What meanest thou by these? And Zi´-ba said, The asses be 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 be faint in the wilderness may drink.

2Sa 16:3 And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Zi´-ba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

2Sa 16:4 Then said the king to Zi´-ba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Me-phib´-o-sheth. And Zi´-ba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find power in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2Sa 16:5 And when king David came to Ba-hu´-rim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim´-e-i, the son of Ge´-ra: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

2Sa 16:6 And 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.

2Sa 16:7 And thus said Shim´-e-i when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Be´-li-al:

2Sa 16:8 The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Ab´-sa-lom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

2Sa 16:9 Then said A-bi´-shai the son of Ze-ru´-iah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

2Sa 16:10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Ze-ru´-iah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

2Sa 16:11 And David said to A-bi´-shai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

2Sa 16:12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

2Sa 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shim´-e-i went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

2Sa 16:14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

2Sa 16:15 And Ab´-sa-lom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and A-hith´-o-phel with him.

2Sa 16:16 And it came to pass, when Hu´shai the Ar´-chite, David’s friend, was come unto Ab´-sa-lom, that Hu´-shai said unto Ab´-sa-lom, God save the king, God save the king.

2Sa 16:17 And Ab´-sa-lom said to Hu´-shai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

2Sa 16:18 And Hu´-shai said unto Ab´-salom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

2Sa 16:19 And again, whom should serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

2Sa 16:20 Then said Ab´-sa-lom to A-hith´o-phel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

2Sa 16:21 And A-hith´-o-phel said unto Ab´-sa-lom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

2Sa 16:22 So they spread Ab´-sa-lom a tent upon the top of the house; and Ab´-salom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2Sa 16:23 And the counsel of A-hith´-ophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of A-hith´-o-phel both with David and with Ab´-sa-lom.