1When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephib'osheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The asses are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’ ” 4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephib'osheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I do obeisance; let me ever find favour in your sight, my lord the king.”

5When King David came to Bahu'rim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim'e-i, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually. 6And he threw 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. 7And Shim'e-i said as he cursed, “Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow! 8The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Ab'salom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood.”

9Then Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeru'iah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” 11And David said to Abi'shai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him. 12It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction,16.12 Gk Vg: Heb iniquity and that the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.” 13So David and his men went on the road, while Shim'e-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan;16.14 Gk: Heb lacks at the Jordan and there he refreshed himself.

15Now Ab'salom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahith'ophel with him. 16And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Ab'salom, Hushai said to Ab'salom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17And Ab'salom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18And Hushai said to Ab'salom, “No; for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20Then Ab'salom said to Ahith'ophel, “Give your counsel; what shall we do?” 21Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22So they pitched a tent for Ab'salom upon the roof; and Ab'salom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23Now in those days the counsel which Ahith'ophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle16.23 Heb word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahith'ophel esteemed, both by David and by Ab'salom.