UNROLL
Morning on a rocky ridge road east of the Mount of Olives: a pale track drops away through bare chalky hills toward a hazy Jordan valley, a parallel ridge across a narrow ravine, a few thorn bushes, under a calm pale blue sky.

The Book of

2 Samuel 16

Over the hill a servant brings gifts, a Benjamite throws stones, and in Jerusalem a counselor speaks like an oracle.

23 verses≈ 5 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–4King in HebronThe house of Saul falls
  2. 5–6JerusalemThe ark comes home
  3. 7–10A house foreverGod's promise to David
  4. 11–12David's sinBathsheba and Nathan
  5. 13–20The swordAmnon, Absalom and ShebaChapter 16
  6. 21–24Last wordsSongs, heroes and an altar

David and Ziba

Morning just past the summit of the Mount of Olives: Ziba, a well-fed steward in a brown robe, stands holding the lead ropes of two saddled donkeys loaded with baskets of loaves, raisins and fruit and a bulging wineskin, as David and his weary company come along the path.

When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

David

“Why do you have these?” asked the king.

Ziba

Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

David

“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king.

Ziba

And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”

David

So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”

Ziba

“I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

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Shimei Curses David

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.

Shimei
Shimei

And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

Abishai

Then 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!”

David

But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

2 Samuel 16:12

Reflect

Let him curse

David could have silenced Shimei with one word to Abishai. Instead he said, “Leave him alone and let him curse me,” and left the matter with the LORD. Whose words have hurt you? Write down how you might leave repayment in God’s hands today, and what you would ask Him for instead.

The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai

In the stone-paved courtyard of David’s house in Jerusalem, Absalom with long heavy hair and a crimson robe sits on a plain wooden chair; old, white-bearded Hushai bows before him with hands raised, while the gray-bearded counselor Ahithophel watches with narrowed eyes and armed men stand by the door.

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom

“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

Hushai

“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

Absalom

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

Ahithophel

Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 16:23

Question

Quick question

Shimei kept pace with David along the ridge across the ravine.

What did Shimei throw at David along the ridge?

You’ve experienced

2 Samuel 16

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A verse to carry with you

Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.

2 Samuel 16:12

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