2nd Samuel Chapter 16
From The Open Bible Project
16:1 When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
- (a) Which was the hill of olives, (2 Samuel 15:30).
16:2 The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.
- (b) Commonly there are no viler traitors than they, who under the pretence of friendship accuse others.
16:3 The king said, "Where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.'"
16:4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba said, "I do obeisance. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king."
16:5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.
- (c) Which was a city in the tribe of Benjamin.
16:6 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.
- (d) That is, round about him.
16:7 Shimei said when he cursed, "Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow!
16:8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!"
- (e) Reproaching him, as though by his means Ishbosheth and Abner were slain.
16:9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."
16:10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, 'Curse David;' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"
- (f) David felt that this was the judgment of God for his sin, and therefore humbles himself to his rod.
16:11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, 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 Yahweh has invited him.
16:12 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today."
- (g) Meaning, that the Lord will send comfort to his, when they are oppressed.
16:13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust.
16:14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.
- (h) That is, at Bahurim.
16:15 Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16:16 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?"
- (i) Meaning, David.
16:18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but whoever Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will stay.
16:19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."
16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do."
16:21 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."
- (k) Suspecting the change of the kingdom, and so his own overthrow, he gives such counsel as might most hinder his father’s reconciliation: and also declare to the people that Absalom was in highest authority.
16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
16:23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
- (l) It was so esteemed for the success of it.
