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

And when David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses 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.

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 will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.

Shimei Curses David

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.

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.

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow:

Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art taken in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.

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.

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him.

It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.

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

And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem; Hushai's Ploy

And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king.

And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

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

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, that he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then will the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

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.

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired 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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2 Samuel16

Ziba Deceives David

Shimei Curses David

Absalom Enters Jerusalem; Hushai's Ploy

Ahithophel’s Sinful Counsel

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