1 David had gone a little beyond the summit when Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, came to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys. They carried two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred portions of summer fruit and a wineskin of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, “What are these for?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for the weary to drink in the wilderness.” 3 The king asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to the king, “He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’ ” 4 The king said to Ziba, “Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.” 5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man from the clan of Saul’s house came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he kept cursing as he came. 6 He threw stones at David and all King David’s servants, while all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and left. 7 As Shimei cursed, he said, “Get out! Get out, you bloodthirsty, worthless man! 8 The LORD has brought back on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Now you are in your own misery, because you are a bloodthirsty man.” 9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse as he does, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who can say, ‘Why have you done this?’ ”

11 David said to Abishai and all his servants, “My own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life. How much more this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 Perhaps the LORD will look on my tears, and the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 David and his men went on their way, while Shimei walked along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went, throwing stones at him and flinging dust.

14 The king and all the people with him arrived weary, and he refreshed himself there. 15 Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, with Ahithophel beside him. 16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, he said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 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, I will belong to the one the LORD, this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, and I will stay with him. 19 Besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Lie with your father’s concubines, whom he left to look after the house. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom lay with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 In those days the counsel Ahithophel gave was regarded as if a man had inquired of the word of God. So it was with all Ahithophel’s counsel, both for David and for Absalom.