2 Samuel 16:1-8 ▼

1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a clay jar of wine.

2 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these? ” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3 “Where is your master’s grandson? ” the king asked. “Why, he’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’ ”

4 The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours! ” “I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May I find favor with you, my lord the king! ”

5 When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached.

6 He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left.

7 Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man!

8 The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed! ”