David and Ziba 1 UDB When David and the others had gone a little way past the top of the hill, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him. He had with him two donkeys that were carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred bunches of fresh figs, and a leather bag full of wine. BSB BSB: When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 UDB The king said to Ziba, "What are these for?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for your family to ride on, the bread and the fruit are for your soldiers to eat, and the wine is for them to drink when they become exhausted in the wilderness." BSB BSB: “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “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 to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3 UDB The king said, "Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your former master Saul?" Ziba answered, "He stayed in Jerusalem because he thinks that now the people will allow him to rule the kingdom that his grandfather Saul ruled." BSB BSB: “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”
4 UDB The king said to Ziba, "Very well, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." Ziba replied, "Your Majesty, I will humbly serve you, and I desire that you will always be pleased with me." BSB BSB: So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
Shimei Curses David 5 UDB When King David and those with him arrived at the city of Bahurim, a man named Shimei met him. Shimei, whose father was Gera, was a member of the same clan that Saul's family belong to. Shimei was cursing David as he approached. BSB BSB: As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
6 UDB Then he threw stones at David and his officials, even though the officials and David's bodyguards surrounded David. BSB BSB: He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.
7 UDB Shimei cursed David and said to him, "Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel! BSB BSB: And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
8 UDB Yahweh is getting revenge on you all for murdering many people in Saul's family. And now he is giving Saul's kingdom to your son Absalom. You murderer, you are being paid back for the many people that you have killed!" BSB BSB: The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 UDB Then Abishai said to the king, "Your Majesty, this man is as worthless as a dead dog! Why should he be allowed to curse you? Allow me to go over there and cut off his head!" BSB BSB: Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
10 UDB But the king replied, "You two sons of Zeruiah, I want nothing to do with you. If he is cursing me because Yahweh told him to do so, then no one should ask him, 'Why are you cursing the king?'" BSB BSB: But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
11 UDB Then David said to Abishai and to all of his officials, "You know that my own son is trying to kill me. So it is not surprising that this man from the tribe of Benjamin is also trying to kill me. Just ignore him and allow him to curse me. Yahweh has told him to do that. BSB BSB: Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
12 UDB Perhaps Yahweh will see that I am having all this trouble, and he will repay me by blessing me in return for this man cursing me today." BSB BSB: Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
13 UDB Then David and those who were with him walked along the road, and Shimei continued walking along the hillside near him. While he walked along, he cursed David and threw stones and dirt at him. BSB BSB: So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.
14 UDB When David and those stopped traveling that evening, they were very tired. So they rested. BSB BSB: Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai 15 UDB While that was happening, Absalom and all the Israelites who were with him had arrived in Jerusalem. Ahithophel had also arrived there. BSB BSB: Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 UDB When David's friend Hushai came to Absalom, he said to Absalom, "I desire that the king will live a long time! May you live for many years!" BSB BSB: And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 UDB Absalom said to Hushai, "You have been loyal to your friend David for a long time. So why did you not go with him instead of coming to me?" BSB BSB: “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 UDB Hushai replied, "It is right for me to serve the one whom Yahweh and these people and all the other people of Israel have chosen to be their king. So I will stay with you. BSB BSB: “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 UDB Besides, whom should I serve? Why should I not serve my master's son? Just as I have served your father, even so I will serve you." BSB BSB: Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
20 UDB Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "What do you advise that we should do?" BSB BSB: Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
21 UDB Ahithophel replied, "Your father left some of his slave wives in the palace to take care of it. You should sleep with them. When everyone in Israel hears that you have done that, they will realize that you hold your father in contempt. Then all those who are with you will be very encouraged." BSB BSB: Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
22 UDB So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace. And Absalom went into the tent and slept with his father's slave wives, one by one, and everyone could see them going into the tent. BSB BSB: So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 UDB In those days, people accepted what Ahithophel recommended as though he was speaking the words of God. So just as David had always accepted what Ahithophel said, now Absalom did also. BSB BSB: Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.