2 Samuel 16

1 When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Tziva the servant of Mefivoshet met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 The king said to Tziva, What do you mean by these? Tziva said, 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, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

3 The king said, Where is your master's son? Tziva said to the king, Behold, he abides at Yerushalayim; for he said, Today will the house of Yisra'el restore me the kingdom of my father.

4 Then said the king to Tziva, Behold, all that pertains to Mefivoshet is yours. Tziva said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.

5 When king David came to Bachurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Sha'ul came out, whose name was Shim`i, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.

6 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.

7 Thus said Shim`i when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:

8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Sha'ul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Avshalom your son; and, behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.

9 Then said Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

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

11 David said to Avishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Binyamini now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.

12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day.

13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shim`i went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

15 Avshalom, and all the people, the men of Yisra'el, came to Yerushalayim, and Achitofel with him.

16 It happened, when Hushai the Arki, David's friend, was come to Avshalom, that Hushai said to Avshalom, [Long] live the king, [Long] live the king.

17 Avshalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?

18 Hushai said to Avshalom, No; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Yisra'el have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

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.

20 Then said Avshalom to Achitofel, Give your counsel what we shall do.

21 Achitofel said to Avshalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Yisra'el will hear that you are abhorred of your father: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong.

22 So they spread Avshalom a tent on the top of the house; and Avshalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Yisra'el.

23 The counsel of Achitofel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Achitofel both with David and with Avshalom.

2 Samuel 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Ziba's falsehood. (1-4) David cursed by Shimei. (5-14) Ahithophel's counsel. (15-23)

Verses 1-4 Ziba belied Mephibosheth. Great men ought always to be jealous of flatterers, and to be careful that they hear both sides.

Verses 5-14 David bore Shimei's curses much better than Ziba's flatteries; by these he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by those to pass a right judgment on himself: the world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Once and again David spared Saul's life, while Saul sought his. But innocence is no defence against malice and falsehood; nor are we to think it strange, if we are charged with that which we have been most careful to keep ourselves from. It is well for us, that men are not to be our judges, but He whose judgment is according to truth. See how patient David was under this abuse. Let this remind us of Christ, who prayed for those who reviled and crucified him. A humble spirit will turn reproaches into reproofs, and get good from them, instead of being provoked by them. David the hand of God in it, and comforts himself that God would bring good out of his affliction. We may depend upon God to repay, not only our services, but our sufferings.

Verses 15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. After all, honesty is the best policy, and will be found so in the long run. Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom; to render himself so hateful to his father, that he would never be reconciled to him; this cursed policy was of the devil. How desperately wicked is the human heart!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 16

In this chapter is an account of Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, getting his inheritance by misrepresentation of him, and by presents to David, 2Sa 16:1-4; and of Shimei's cursing David as he passed along, which David bore patiently, and would not suffer others to avenge it on him, 2Sa 16:5-14; and of Hushai's offer of his service to Absalom, who admitted him to be of his privy council, 2Sa 16:15-19; and of the counsel which Ahithophel gave, 2Sa 15:20-23.