2 Samuel Chapter 16
1 When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth 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 container of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, "What do you mean by these?" Ziba 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 those 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 is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.' "
4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba said, "I bow down. Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, O king."
5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul's house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed 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 Shimei said when he cursed, "Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!
8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of Saul's house, in whose place you have reigned! The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!"
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."
10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? 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 Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave 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 repay me good for the cursing of me 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 him, and threw dust.
14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.
15 Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?"
18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but whomever the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be his, and I will stay with 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 I will be in your presence."
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do."
21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong."
22 So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man enquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel both was like this with David and with Absalom.
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2 Samuel Chapter 16 Guide
David's sorrows multiplied. Those recorded here are typical. Ziba, a man who for purely selfish reasons took advantage of temporary trouble to traduce an absent friend, was utterly despicable, and the more so because at the moment the sorrow he brought to the heart of David was his feeling that his kindness toward Mephibosheth was ill requited. Shimei was of a higher type than Ziba, but was mean beyond measure. He struck when his foe was in the dust. David's attitude toward Shimei is remarkable in its revelation of his attitude toward God. He spoke of Shimei as sent to curse him.
As we thus follow David through these days of humiliation and shame, while with him we recognize the perfect justice of all the sufferings that came to him, we nevertheless understand more perfectly that he was indeed a man after God's own heart.
Arriving in Jerusalem, Absalom was surprised to find Hushai, David's friend, still there. He turned from him to Ahithophel for counsel. Ahithophel advised an action which would make the breach between himself and his father permanent, and constituted a supreme claim to the succession. To enter and possess the harem of a king was the right only of his successor.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Samuel Chapter 16 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- 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!
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.