2 Samuel16

As King David flees Jerusalem, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, deceives him about Mephibosheth's loyalty, resulting in David granting all of Mephibosheth's possessions to Ziba. Further along, Shimei, a relative of Saul, curses David and throws stones, but David forbids retaliation, viewing it as a divine allowance or test. Meanwhile, Absalom enters Jerusalem with Ahithophel, who advises him to publicly defile David's concubines to solidify his reign and alienate his father.
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Ziba Deceives David

1
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. ​
2
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be 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 be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3
And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. ​
4
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. ​

Shimei Curses David

5
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. ​
6
And 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
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: ​
8
The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. ​
9
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. ​
10
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? ​
11
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. ​
12
It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. ​
13
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem; Hushai's Ploy

15
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ​
16
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. ​
17
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? ​
18
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. ​
19
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

Ahithophel’s Sinful Counsel

20
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. ​
22
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. ​
23
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. ​

Study Notes for 2 Samuel 16

Verse 1

As David fled Jerusalem, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, strategically met him with supplies. This generosity was calculated to gain David’s favor and trust.

Verse 3

Ziba falsely accuses Mephibosheth of remaining in Jerusalem in hopes of seizing the throne, capitalizing on David’s fear of continued animosity from Saul's house.

Verse 4

Distressed and preoccupied by Absalom’s revolt, David makes a rash judgment, transferring all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba without investigation. This judgment is later partially reversed (19:29).

Verse 5

Bahurim was a village in Benjamin, Saul’s tribe. Shimei, a relative of Saul, represents the deep resentment the Benjamites felt toward David for taking the kingship.

Verse 7

Shimei accuses David of being a 'bloody man,' likely in reference to the deaths of Saul’s descendants (though David was not directly responsible) or perhaps echoing the judgment for the murder of Uriah.

Verse 8

Shimei views David's current suffering under Absalom as divine retribution for usurping the house of Saul, demonstrating the political and theological complexity of the civil war.

Verse 9

Abishai, known for his fierceness, wanted to execute Shimei immediately for disrespecting the anointed king. David’s refusal shows remarkable humility and restraint.

Verse 10

David silences his men by suggesting that Shimei’s cursing is permitted, or perhaps even commanded, by the LORD. David accepts his humiliation as discipline necessary for his past sins.

Verse 11

If David is willing to endure the mortal threat from his own son, he reasons, he should certainly endure the verbal abuse of a Benjamite, placing trust in God’s ultimate plan.

Verse 12

David expresses hope that his patient suffering and endurance will move God to show mercy and reward him for accepting the affliction, turning the curse into a blessing.

Verse 15

Absalom’s entrance into Jerusalem marks the successful, initial phase of the coup, solidifying his control over the capital and the machinery of government.

Verse 16

Hushai the Archite, David's loyal friend, begins his mission as a double agent (cf. 15:34) by offering a deceptive greeting to Absalom, feigning loyalty to the new regime.

Verse 17

Absalom is naturally suspicious of Hushai, knowing the depth of his friendship with David. Hushai must offer a convincing theological and political justification for his apparent betrayal.

Verse 18

Hushai cleverly uses the language of divine and popular election, arguing that he follows the king whom God and the people have chosen, thereby masking his true allegiance.

Verse 21

Ahithophel's counsel was strategically brilliant but morally devastating: by publicly defiling David's concubines, Absalom would make reconciliation impossible, strengthening the resolve of his followers and fulfilling Nathan's prophecy of judgment (12:11).

Verse 22

The public nature of this act, performed on the roof of David's palace, symbolized Absalom's complete seizure of his father's royal authority and property in the eyes of all Israel.

Verse 23

Ahithophel’s counsel was so highly regarded that it was treated as divine revelation. This reputation makes Hushai’s task of successfully undermining his advice in the following chapter critical to David's survival.

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