 1 When David had gone a little past the top of the hill, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and upon them 200 loaves of bread, and 100 bunches of raisins, and 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, What are these to you? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride upon. And the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine is so that the ones who are faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 The king said, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he remains at Jerusalem. For he said, Today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father. 4 The king said to Ziba, Behold, All that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours. And Ziba said, I humbly beg you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord and king. 5 King David went to Bahurim where a man named Shimei, the son of Gera from the house of Saul came out cursing. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. All the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Shimei said this in his cursing, Go out O man of blood, O man of Belial. 8 The Lord has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has delivered the kingdom to your son Absalom and you are taken in your mischief because you are a man of blood. 9 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. 10 The king said, What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse because the Lord has said to him, Curse David. Who then will say, Why have you done so? 11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. And surely now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day. 13 David and his men went by the highway. And Shimei went along on the hillside over across from him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and threw dust. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived weary and they refreshed themselves there. 15 Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel went with him. 16 When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, Let the king live, let the king live. 17 Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend? 18 Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom the Lord and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and I will stay with him. 19 Again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence. 20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your advice. What shall we do? 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he left to keep the house. All Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. And the hands of all who are with you will be strong. 22 They spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 The advice of Ahithophel that he advised in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom.
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