1And when David was a little beyond the top of the hill, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and loaded upon them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2And David said to Ziba, “What mean you by these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that any who are faint in the wilderness may drink”.
3And David asked, “And where is Mephibosheth, your master's son?” And Ziba said, “He abides at Jerusalem; for he said, “Today shall the tribe of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father”.
4Then David said to Ziba, “Look, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly beg you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king”.
5And when King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed continuously as he came.
6And he threw stones at King David, and at all his servants; all the people and all the mighty men that were to his right and left.
7And Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you bloody man, and worthless fellow:
8The LORD has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, your son; and, you are caught in your own mischief, because you are a bloody man”.
9Then Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord, the king? Let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head”.
10And the king said, “What business is this of yours, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, because if the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David’, who shall then say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
11And David said to Abishai, and all his servants, “Look, my son, who is of came forth of my own flesh and blood, seeks my life; how much more, now, may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for it could be that the LORD has told him to do so.
12It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me good for his cursing this day, if he is acting on his own”.
13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14And the king, and all the people who were with him, became weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15And Absalom, and all his people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16And when Hushai, the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “God save the king, God save the king”.
17And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but whomever the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel, shall choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19And again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.”
20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give counsel among you, what we should do”.
21And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in unto your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father; then shall the hands of all that are with you be strengthened”.
22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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