2 Samuel 16

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 16

1¶ And when David was a little past the top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses [be] 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 be faint in the wilderness may drink.

3And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all that [pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

5¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

6And 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.

7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

8The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

12It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15¶ And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

17And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

As King David flees Jerusalem, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, deceives him about Mephibosheth's loyalty, resulting in David granting all of Mephibosheth's possessions to Ziba. Further along, Shimei, a relative of Saul, curses David and throws stones, but David forbids retaliation, viewing it as a divine allowance or test. Meanwhile, Absalom enters Jerusalem with Ahithophel, who advises him to publicly defile David's concubines to solidify his reign and alienate his father.

Medium Summary

Second Samuel chapter sixteen details King David's flight from Absalom's rebellion and the challenges he encounters. Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, meets David with provisions and falsely claims Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem hoping for the kingdom's restoration. David, without further inquiry, grants all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba. Later, Shimei, a Benjamite from Saul's house, vehemently curses David, accusing him of being a "bloody man" and throwing stones. Despite Abishai's desire to execute Shimei, David restrains him, interpreting the cursing as divinely permitted, hoping God will turn the affliction into good. Concurrently, Absalom enters Jerusalem with his forces and Ahithophel. Hushai, David's loyal friend, feigns allegiance to Absalom to undermine Ahithophel's counsel. Ahithophel then advises Absalom to publicly lie with David's concubines, a shocking act designed to utterly alienate David and demonstrate Absalom's irreversible claim to the throne, thereby strengthening his followers.

Long Summary

Second Samuel chapter sixteen chronicles significant events during King David's flight from his son Absalom's rebellion. As David departs Jerusalem, he encounters Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who brings provisions of food and wine. Ziba falsely informs David that Mephibosheth has remained in Jerusalem, hoping that the house of Israel would restore the kingdom to him. Without further investigation, David immediately bestows all of Mephibosheth's former possessions upon Ziba, believing the deceitful report. Continuing his journey, David reaches Bahurim where he is met by Shimei, a Benjamite from the house of Saul, who curses him vehemently. Shimei throws stones and dust at David and his retinue, accusing him of being a "bloody man" and a "man of Belial," and attributing David's current distress to divine retribution for his actions against Saul's house. Abishai, one of David's loyal commanders, offers to kill Shimei for his insolence. However, David rebukes Abishai, asserting that Shimei's cursing is permitted, or even commanded, by the Lord, and that if his own son seeks his life, a Benjamite's curse is less surprising. David expresses hope that the Lord will observe his affliction and repay him with good for Shimei's curses. Meanwhile, Absalom, accompanied by his forces and the highly respected counselor Ahithophel, arrives in Jerusalem. Hushai the Archite, David's trusted friend, also comes to Jerusalem and pledges allegiance to Absalom, though his true intent is to serve as a spy and frustrate Ahithophel's counsel. Absalom consults Ahithophel for strategic advice on how to solidify his new reign. Ahithophel's counsel is to publicly engage in sexual relations with David's concubines, whom David had left to keep the house. This act, performed on the rooftop for all Israel to witness, was intended to make Absalom utterly abhorrent to his father, thereby making reconciliation impossible and strengthening the resolve of Absalom's followers by demonstrating his irreversible commitment to the throne. Ahithophel's counsel was widely regarded as divinely inspired.

Core Concepts

  • Deception and BetrayalZiba deceives King David regarding Mephibosheth's loyalty, leading David to unjustly transfer Mephibosheth's inheritance to Ziba. This highlights the opportunistic nature of some individuals during times of crisis.
  • Divine Providence/AfflictionDavid interprets Shimei's curses and the rebellion itself as a form of divine allowance or even command, believing that God may be testing him or bringing judgment, but also hoping for divine recompense. This demonstrates David's theological perspective on suffering.
  • Loyalty and DisloyaltyThe chapter contrasts Ziba's deceit and Shimei's open hostility with Hushai's feigned allegiance, which is actually a strategic act of loyalty to David. It also shows the shifting allegiances during a civil war.
  • Usurpation and LegitimacyAbsalom's actions, particularly his public defilement of David's concubines, are designed to irrevocably sever ties with his father and publicly assert his claim to the throne. This act was a symbolic seizure of the king's property and power, aiming to establish his legitimacy in the eyes of Israel.
  • Strategic CounselAhithophel's advice to Absalom to publicly lie with David's concubines is presented as highly esteemed and wise counsel, intended to solidify Absalom's position and prevent any possibility of reconciliation with David. This illustrates the importance of strategic advisors in ancient warfare and politics.
  • Consequences of RebellionThe chapter vividly portrays the immediate consequences of Absalom's rebellion, forcing David to flee and creating a climate of uncertainty, opportunism, and open defiance against the established king.