2 Samuel 16

1 Now when David was a little past the top, look, Ziba the servant of Mippibaal met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a container of wine.

After David had gone a little way past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, waiting to meet him. He had two donkeys already saddled with him carrying two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2 And the king said to Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" And Ziba replied, "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 is for those who get exhausted in the desert."

“What did you bring these for?” David asked Ziba. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the bread and summer fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who get worn out in the wilderness.”

3 Then the king said, "Where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Look, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the children of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.'"

“Where is your master's grandson?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He decided to stay in Jerusalem. He's saying, ‘Today the people of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.’”

4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that pertains to Mippibaal is yours." Ziba said, "I humbly bow. May I find favor in the sight of my lord the king."

The king told Ziba, “I give you everything that belongs to Mephibosheth!” “I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May you approve of me, Your Majesty.”

5 And when king David reached Bahurim, now look, 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 continuously as he approached.

As King David arrived at the town of Bahurim, a man from Saul's family was just leaving. His name was Shimei, son of Gera, and he was shouting out curses as he came.

6 And he threw stones at David and at all his servants, and all the people and all the soldiers at his right hand and at his left.

He threw stones at David and all the king's officers, even though the king's men and all his bodyguards surrounded David.

7 And Shimei said as he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, and worthless man.

“Get out of here, just get out, you murderer, you wicked man!” Shimei said as he cursed.

8 YHWH has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and YHWH has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And look, your evil is upon you, because you are a man of bloodshed."

“The Lord has paid you back for all of Saul's family that you killed, and for stealing Saul's throne. The Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Look how you've ended up in disaster because you're a murderer!”

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."

Abishai, son of Zeruiah, asked the king, “Why should this dead dog curse Your Majesty? Let me go and cut off his head!”

10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because YHWH has said to him, 'Curse David;' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

“What's that got to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?” the king replied. “If he's cursing me because the Lord told him to, then who can question what he's doing?”

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son who came from my body seeks my life. So also now this Benjamite. Leave him alone and let him curse, for YHWH has told him to.

David said to Abishai and to all his officers, “Look, if my very own son is trying to kill me, why shouldn't this Benjamite want to even more! Leave him alone; let him curse me, for the Lord told him to.

12 Perhaps YHWH will look on my affliction and return good to me for his cursing today."

Perhaps the Lord will see how I'm suffering and will pay me back with good for his curses today.”

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 his flank, and threw dirt.

David and his men continued down the road, with Shimei keeping up with them on the hillside opposite. He went on cursing as he went along, throwing stones and dirt at David.

14 Now the king and all his people arrived weary at the Jordan, and he refreshed himself there.

The king and everyone with him were tired out when they arrived at the Jordan. David rested there.

15 Now Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

In the meantime Absalom and all the Israelites with him arrived in Jerusalem, along with Ahithophel.

16 And it came about when David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king. Long live the king."

Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, went to see Absalom and declared, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

“Is this how you show loyalty to your friend?” Absalom asked. “Why didn't you leave with your friend?”

18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom YHWH and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I belong, and with him I will stay.

“Certainly not!” Hushai replied. “I'm on the side of the one chosen by the Lord, by the army, and by all the people of Israel. I will remain loyal to him.

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."

In any case, why shouldn't I serve his son? In the same way I served your father I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What should we do?"

Then Absalom asked Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What shall we do?”

21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's secondary wives, that he has left to care for the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father. Then those on your side will be motivated to support you."

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father's concubines—the ones he left here to look after the palace. Then everyone in Israel will realize that you have so offended your father there's no turning back, which will encourage all your supporters.”

22 So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's secondary wives in the sight of all Israel.

So they put up a tent on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's concubines in the full view of everyone.

23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one inquired of the word of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.

At that time Ahithophel's advice was like receiving messages from God himself. This was how both David and Absalom viewed Ahithophel's advice.