Open English Translation 2SA Chapter 16

16 David hadn’t gone far past the summit when, wow, he was meet by Mefiboshet’s servant Tsiva with a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred bread rolls, one hundred cakes of raisins, one hundred pieces of fresh fruit, and a leather container of wine.[ref] 2 “What’s all that?” the king asked.

“The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride,” Tsiva answered, “and the bread and fruits are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for the people to drink who feel faint in the wilderness.”

3 “So where’s your master’s grandson Mefiboshet?” asked the king.[ref]

Ha, he stayed in Yerushalem because he thought that the Israelis might give back control of his grandfather’s kingdom,” Tsiva lied.

4 “Well then,” the king told Tsiva, “everything that belonged to Mefiboshet now belongs to you.”

“I’m honoured,” Tsiva responded, “that I’ve found favour in the eyes of my master the king.”

5 When King David got to Bahurim, wow, a man from Sha’ul’s extended family came out. He was Gera’s son Shimei, and he came out and cursed David. 6 Then he threw stones at David and all his servants, and all the people and warriors on both sides of the king. 7 “Go away, go away, you worthless man of much bloodshed!” Shimei yelled. 8 “Now Yahweh’s returning to you all the blood of Sha’ul’s household. You took over as king in his place, but Yahweh’s giving the kingdom into the hand of your son Abshalom. Look at you, you’re evil because you’re a man of much bloodshed.”

9 The Tseruyah’s son Abishai asked the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my master the king? Please, let me cross over and lop off his head.”

10 “What does it matter to me, or to you two sons of Tseruyah?” the king replied. “He’s cursing because Yahweh told him to curse me, so who has any right to ask him why he’s saying it?” 11 Then David told Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own biological son is trying to kill me. Now on top of that, this Benjaminite. Leave him and let him curse, because Yahweh told him to. 12 Perhaps Yahweh will see my suffering and return good on me, instead of this cursing today.” 13 As David and his men continued along the road, Shimei walked along the hillside beside him—walking and cursing, and throwing stones and dirt at him. 14 Later, the king and all the people with him arrived,[fn] and feeling very tired, they rested.

15 Meanwhile, Abshalom and all his followers arrived in Yerushalem, and Ahitofel was among them. 16 When David’s friend Hushay (the Arkite) came to Abshalom, he greeted him, “May the king live. May the king live.”

17 “Is that how you show kindness to your friend David?” Abshalom responded. “Why didn’t you go with him?”

18 “No,” Hushay replied. “I’ll serve whoever Yahweh and these people and all the men of Israel have chosen. So I’ll stay with you. 19 Besides that, who should I serve? Why shouldn’t I serve my master’s son? Just as I’ve served your father, similarly, I’ll serve you.”

20 Then Abshalom turned to Ahitofel, “Give us advice. What should we do next?”

21 “Go to your father’s slave-wives that he left to guard the house,” Ahitofel replied. “Lie with them then all Israel will hear that you’ve made your father stink, and then everyone with you will be encouraged.” 22 So they set up a tent for Abshalom on the palace roof and he had sex with his father’s slave-wives where everyone would know what was going on.[ref]

23 In those days, Ahitofel’s advice was just as good as inquiring directly from God, so David in the past, and now Abshalom, accepted what he said.