David and Ziba 1 UST When David and the others had gone a little way past the top of the hill, he unexpectedly met Mephibosheth’ s servant Ziba. He had two donkeys with him that were carrying 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 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 UST The king said to Ziba,“What is all this 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 anyone to drink who becomes tired in this desolate area.” 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 UST The king said,“Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your former master Saul?” Ziba answered,“You should know that he has remained in Jerusalem, because he thinks that now the Israelites will allow him to rule their kingdom as his grandfather Saul did.” 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 UST The king said to Ziba,“In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba replied,“Your Majesty, I will humbly serve you. I hope 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 UST When King David and those with him arrived at the city of Bahurim, a man whose name was Shimei unexpectedly came out of his house to meet him. Shimei’ s father was Gera. They were members of the same clan that Saul’ s family belonged to. Shimei kept 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 UST Then he threw stones at David and his officials. David’ s soldiers and bodyguards surrounded David{ to try to protect him from the stones}. 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 UST Shimei cursed David and said to him,“Go away and never come back, you murderer, you scoundrel! BSB BSB: And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
8 UST Yahweh is punishing you for killing so many people who were Saul’ s relatives and supporters. You took Saul’ s place as king, and now Yahweh is making your son Absalom take your place as king. You are getting what you deserve for killing so many people!” 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 UST Then Abishai said to the king,“Your Majesty, this man is as worthless as a dead dog! You should not allow him to curse you! Permit 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 UST But the king replied,“I do not agree at all with what you two sons of Zeruiah want to do. If he is cursing me because Yahweh told him to curse me, then no one should challenge him for doing that.” 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 UST Then David said to Abishai and to all his officials,“You know that my very own son is trying to kill me. So it is not surprising that this man from the tribe of Benjamin also wants me to die. Just ignore him and let him curse me if 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 UST Perhaps Yahweh will see how much trouble I am having and decide to make good things happen to me instead of the curses that this man is shouting at me today.” BSB BSB: Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
13 UST So David and those who were with him continued walking along the road. Shimei walked along the hillside next to the road, and as he walked along next to them, he kept cursing David and throwing 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 UST King David and the people who were traveling with him were very tired by the time they got to the place where people can walk across the Jordan River. But they were able to get a good rest there. 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 UST While that was happening, Absalom and all the Israelites who were supporting 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 UST Then David’ s friend Hushai came to Absalom and said,“May you, the king, live a long time!” 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 UST Absalom said to Hushai,“You have been a loyal friend of my father David for a long time. So I do not understand why you did not leave Jerusalem with him.” BSB BSB: “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 UST Hushai replied,“Yahweh has chosen you to be the king. So have all these people here, and so have all the other Israelites. So I will now be loyal to you and stay here in Jerusalem 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 UST Besides, it makes sense for me to serve you. After all, you are his son. Just as I served in your father’ s royal court, in the same way, I will serve in your royal court.” 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 UST Then Absalom said to Ahithophel,“What would you advise that we should do?” BSB BSB: Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
21 UST Ahithophel replied,“Your father left some of his secondary wives in the palace to take care of it. I advise you to have sexual relations with them. When people throughout Israel hear that you have done that, they will realize that you will never be able to reconcile with your father. Then all of the Israelites who are supporting you will fight hard to make sure that you defeat him.” 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 UST So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace. Then Absalom had sexual relations in the tent with each of his father’ s secondary wives, one at a time. The Israelites in Jerusalem could see Absalom’ s officials bringing each secondary wife into the tent, and they could see Absalom going into the tent afterwards to have sexual relations with each one. 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 UST In those days, people did what Ahithophel recommended just as if God himself had recommended it. That was how David had regarded what Ahithophel recommended, and Absalom regarded it in that same way. 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.