Ziba Brings David Food for Him & Those Who Flee |
2 Samuel 16:1-23 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
When David was a little past the top of the hill, Ziba [Mephibosheth’s] servant met him with a couple of saddled [mules] & upon them: 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruit & a bottle of wine. |
And King [David] said to Ziba, What [do these mean?] And Ziba said, The [mules] are for the king’s household to ride on & the bread & summer fruit [are] for the young men to eat & the wine [is for anyone] to drink [who is] faint in the wilderness. |
The king [asked,] Where is your master’s son? And Ziba said to the king, He [stays in] Jerusalem. For he said, Today, the house of Israel shall restore [to] me the kingdom of my father. |
Then, king [David] said to Ziba, [Look,] yours are all [who pertain] to Mephibosheth. Ziba said, I humbly [ask] you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king. |
When king David came to Bahurim & [saw] a man came out, [from] the family of [Saul’s] house, [named] Shimei, [Gera’s] son. [Shimei] came [forward] & cursed [David] as he came & he [threw] stones at David & all his servants. And all the people & all the mighty men were on his right hand & on his left. |
Shimei said [this] when he cursed, Come out, come out, you [blood thirsty] man, you man of the [wicked.] The Lord has [repaid] you for all the blood [shed] of the house of Saul & [you] have [ruled] in his [place] & the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, your son. |
[Look, now] you are [caught] in your own mischief, because you are a [blood thirsty] man. Then Abishai, [Zeruiah’s] son, said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord, the king? |
I pray [that] you let me go over & take off his head. King [David] said, What [does this] have to do with you, you [son] of Zeruiah? So, let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, Curse David. Who shall say, [For what reason] have you done [this?] |
And David said to Abishai & to all his servants, [See,] my son [who] came [from my own body] seeks my life. How much more [can] the Benjamite do [to me?] Let him alone & let him curse; for the Lord has [told] him [to do so.] |
It may be that the Lord will look upon my [troubles] & will [repay] me good for his cursing this day. As David & his men went by the [road,] Shimei went along on the hillside [next] to him, cursing & [throwing rocks & dirt] as he went. |
And the king & all the people with him, [became tired] & refreshed themselves there. Absalom, Ahitohophel & all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem with him. It [happened,] when Hushai, the Archite, David’s friend, [came] to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, God save the king. [Long live the king.] |
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why [didn’t you go] with your friend? Hushai said, [No, whomever] the Lord, this people & the men of Israel choose, I will be his & I will [stay] with him. |
Again, whom shall I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of [David’s] son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I [serve] in your presence. Then, Absalom said to Ahithophel, [Discuss] among [yourselves & give advice as to] what we shall do. |
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in [& be intimate with] your father’s [mistresses,] he has left to [take care of] the house & all Israel shall hear that you are [hated by] your father. |
Then, the hands of all [who] are with you shall be strong. So they spread Absalom’s tent upon the top of the house & Absalom [was intimate with] his father’s [mistresses] in the sight of all Israel. |
And [Ahithophel’s counsel] in those days, was [like someone who inquires] at the oracle of God. So, all Ahithophel’s [advice] was both with David & with Absalom. |