Dual Panel1When David had moved on a little from the top of the ridge, he was met by Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a pair of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a skin of wine.
2The king asked, “What are you doing with these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the bread and the summer fruit are for his servants to eat, and the wine for anyone who becomes exhausted in the wilderness.”
3The king asked, “Where is your master's grandson?” “He is staying in Jerusalem,” said Ziba, “for he thought that the Israelites might now restore to him his grandfather's kingdom.”
4The king said to Ziba, “You shall have everything that belongs to Mephibosheth.” Ziba said, “I am your humble servant, sir; may I always find favour with your majesty.”
5As King David approached Bahurim, a man of Saul's family, whose name was Shimei son of Gera, came out, cursing all the while.
6He showered stones right and left on David and on all the king's servants and on everyone, soldiers and people alike.
7With curses Shimei shouted: “Get out, get out, you murderous scoundrel!
8The LORD has taken vengeance on you for the blood of the house of Saul whose throne you took, and he has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You murderer, see how your crimes have overtaken you!”
9Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why let this dead dog curse your majesty? I will go across and strike off his head.”
10But the king said, “What has this to do with us, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has told him to curse David, who can question it?”
11David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “If my very own son is out to kill me, who can wonder at this Benjamite? Let him be, let him curse; for the LORD has told him to.
12Perhaps the LORD will mark my sufferings and bestow a blessing on me in place of the curse laid on me this day.”
13David and his men continued on their way, and Shimei kept abreast along the ridge of the hill parallel to David's path, cursing as he went and hurling stones across the valley at him and covering him with dust.
14When the king and all the people with him reached the Jordan, they rested there, for they were worn out.
15By now Absalom and all his Israelites had reached Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16When Hushai the Archite, David's Friend, met Absalom he said, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17But Absalom retorted, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with him?”
18Hushai answered, “Because I mean to attach myself to the man chosen by the LORD and by this people and by all the men of Israel, and with him I shall stay.
19After all, whom ought I to serve? Should I not serve the son? I shall serve you as I have served your father.”
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice: how shall we act?”
21Ahithophel answered, “Lie with your father's concubines whom he left in charge of the palace. Then all Israel will come to hear that you have given great cause of offence to your father, and this will confirm the resolution of your followers.”
22So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23In those days a man would seek counsel of Ahithophel as if he were making an enquiry of the word of God; that was how Ahithophel's counsel was esteemed by both David and Absalom.