When David was ^aa little past the summit of the Mount of Olives, behold, ^bZiba, the servant of ¹Mephibosheth, met him ^cwith a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a ²jug of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” Ziba said, “^aThe donkeys are for the king’s household (family) to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is ^bfor anyone to drink who becomes weary in the wilderness.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is ^ayour ¹master’s son Mephibosheth?” ^bZiba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my ²father.’” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “¹Behold, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down in honor and gratitude; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord the king.”

5 When King David came to ^aBahurim, a man named ^bShimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was ^ccursing continually as he came out. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the ¹servants of King David; yet all the people and all the warriors remained on his right and on his left. 7 This is what Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, ^ayou man of bloodshed, you worthless and useless man! 8 ^aThe LORD has returned upon you all ^bthe bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then ^aAbishai David’s nephew, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should ^bthis dead dog (despicable person) ^ccurse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “^1aWhat business is this of yours, O sons of Zeruiah? ^bIf Shimei is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ ^cthen who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, ^amy son Absalom who came from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more reason now does this Benjamite have to curse me? Let him alone and let him curse, ^bfor it could be that the LORD has told him to do it. 12 Perhaps the LORD will look on the wrong done to me by Shimei, if he is acting on his own; and in that case perhaps the Lord will this day ^areturn good to me in place of his cursing.” 13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei went along on the hillside close beside David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him. 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived at the Jordan River weary, and he refreshed himself there.

15 ^aThen Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 Now it happened when ^aHushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, ^bHushai said to him, “^cLong live the king! Long live the king!” 17 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? ^aWhy did you not go with your friend?” 18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen as king, I will be his, and I will remain with him. 19 Besides, ^awhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of David’s son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall serve in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^aGo in to your father’s ¹concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened by your boldness and audacity.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof of the king’s palace, ^aand ¹Absalom went in to his father’s concubines ^bin the sight of all Israel. 2+@Sam 12:11, 12 23 ^aThe advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had consulted the word of God; ^bthat is how all Ahithophel’s counsel was regarded by both David and Absalom.

Now when David had gone on ^aa little beyond the summit, behold, ^bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth met him ^cwith a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “^aThe donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine, ^bfor whoever is weary in the wilderness to drink.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is ^ayour master’s son?” And ^bZiba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, the king!”

5 When King David came to ^aBahurim, behold, a man was coming out from there from the family of the house of Saul, and ^bhis name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he was coming out, ^ccursing as he came. 6 He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7 This is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Go away, go away, ^ayou man of bloodshed and worthless man! 8 ^aThe LORD has brought back upon you all ^bthe bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then ^aAbishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should ^bthis dead dog ^ccurse my lord the king? Now let me go over and ¹cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “^1aWhat business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? ^bIf he curses, and if the LORD has told him, ‘Curse David,’ ^cthen who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^amy son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, ^bfor the LORD has told him. 12 Perhaps the LORD will look on my ¹misery and ^2areturn good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there.

15 ^aThen Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 Now it came about, when ^aHushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that ^bHushai said to Absalom, “^cLong live the king! Long live the king!” 17 But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ¹loyalty to your friend? ^aWhy did you not go with your friend?” 18 So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. 19 Besides, ^awhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^aHave relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, ^aand Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines ^bin the sight of all Israel. 23 Now ^athe advice of Ahithophel, which he ¹gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; ^bso was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.