2Samuel 16
16Now just as David happened to have passed the summit of the Mount of Olives, suddenly Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him, accompanied by a couple of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit, and a skin of wine!H1732H4592H5674H7218H6717H5288H4648H7125H6776H2543H2280H3967H3899H3967H6778H3967H7019H5035H31962The king asked Ziba, "What are those for?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whoever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness."H4428H559H6717H6717H559H2543H4428H1004H7392H3899H7019H5288H398H3196H3287H4057H83543Then the king asked, "Where is your master's son?" "He's staying in Jerusalem!" Ziba answered the king. "He's saying 'The nation of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me today!'"H4428H559H113H1121H6717H559H4428H3427H3389H559H3117H1004H3478H7725H4468H14So the king told Ziba, "Pay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" In response Ziba said, "I'm submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!"H559H4428H6717H4648H6717H559H7812H4672H2580H5869H113H44285Later on, as King David approached Bahurim, Gera's son Shimei, who was related to the family of Saul's household, went out to meet David, cursing continuously as he came.H4428H1732H935H980H3318H376H4940H1004H7586H8034H8096H1121H1617H3318H7043H33186He threw rocks at David and all of David's staff who were accompanying him, while all the rest of the entourage, including all of David's security detail, were close by him.H5619H68H1732H5650H4428H1732H5971H1368H3225H80407"Get out of here! Get out!" Shimei yelled as he cursed. "You murderer! You who think you're above the law!H559H8096H7043H3318H3318H1818H376H376H11008The Lord has repaid you personally for murdering the entire dynasty of Saul, whose place you've taken to reign! And the Lord has given the kingdom into your son Absalom's control. Now look! Your own evil has caught up with you, because you're guilty of murder!"H3068H7725H1818H1004H7586H4427H3068H5414H4410H3027H53H1121H7451H1818H3769At this point, Zeruiah's son Abishai asked the king, "Why should this dead dog be cursing your majesty the king?May I have permission to go over and cut off his head?"H559H52H1121H6870H4428H4191H3611H7043H113H4428H5674H5493H721810But the king responded, "What do I have in common with you sons of Zeruiah?If he continues to curse - and if the Lord has told him, 'Curse David!' - then who are you to be demanding to know 'Why have you done this?'"H4428H559H1121H6870H7043H3068H559H7043H1732H559H621311So David ordered Abishai and all of his staff: "Look! My own son wants to kill me! How much more now is this Benjaminite?Leave him alone and let him go on cursing, because the Lord has ordered him to do this.H1732H559H52H5650H1121H3318H4578H1245H5315H1145H3240H7043H3068H55912Perhaps the Lord will take note of my troubles and return good to me instead of curses today!"H3068H7200H5869H6040H3068H7725H2896H7045H311713So David and his entourage went on their way, and Shimei walked along the hillside with him, cursing, throwing rocks, and tossing dirt at David as they went along.H1732H582H3212H1870H8096H1980H2022H6763H5980H7043H1980H5619H68H5980H6080H608314Eventually, the king and his entourage arrived exhausted at their destination, and David refreshed himself there.H4428H5971H935H5889H531415Right about then, Absalom and his entourage from the people of Israel entered Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.H53H5971H376H3478H935H3389H30216When David's friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"16H2365H757H1732H7463H935H53H2365H559H53H2421H4428H2421H442817But Absalom asked Hushai, "So this is how you demonstrate your loyalty to your closest friends?Why didn't you leave with your friend?"H53H559H2365H2617H7453H1980H745318Hushai replied, "No! On the contrary, whomever the Lord, this group, and all the men of Israel choose is where I'll be, and I'll remain with him!H2365H559H53H3068H5971H376H3478H977H342719Besides, who else should I be serving?Why not the son?The same way I served your father, I'll serve you."H8145H5647H6440H1121H5647H1H6440H644020So Absalom asked Ahithophel, "What's your advice?What should we do?"H559H53H302H3051H6098H621321Ahithophel responded, "Go inside and have sex with your father's mistresses, whom he left to keep the palace in order. Then everyone in Israel will hear how your father has come to hate you and everyone who has joined you will be emboldened to act."H302H559H53H935H1H6370H3240H8104H1004H3478H8085H887H1H3027H238822So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's mistresses right in front of all Israel.H5186H53H168H1406H53H935H1H6370H5869H347823Now Ahithophel's advice that he provided at that time was being compared to one who inquired of God, so highly regarded was Ahithophel's counsel by both David and Absalom.H6098H302H3289H3117H376H7592H1697H430H6098H302H1732H53
Columbus, OH
