David is slandered by Ziba and cursed by Shimei as he flees. Absalom enters Jerusalem and is advised by Ahithophel to go in to his father's concubines, which he does.
1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread , and an hundred bunches of raisins , and an hundred of summer fruits , and a bottle of wine .
2 And the king said unto Ziba , What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said , The asses be for the king's household to ride on ; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat ; and the wine , that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink .
3 And the king said , And where is thy master's son ? And Ziba said unto the king , Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem : for he said , To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father .
4 Then said the king to Ziba , Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth . And Ziba said , I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight , my lord , O king .
5 And when king David came to Bahurim , behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul , whose name was Shimei , the son of Gera : he came forth , and cursed still as he came .
6 And he cast 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 .
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed , Come out , come out , thou bloody man , and thou man of Belial :
8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul , in whose stead thou hast reigned ; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son : and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief , because thou art a bloody man .
9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king , Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? let me go over , I pray thee, and take off his head .
10 And the king said , What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah ? so let him curse , because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David . Who shall then say , Wherefore hast thou done so ?
11 And David said to Abishai , and to all his servants , Behold, my son , which came forth of my bowels , seeketh my life : how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone , and let him curse ; for the LORD hath bidden him.
12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction , and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day .
13 And as David and his men went by the way , Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went , and threw stones at him, and cast dust .
14 And the king , and all the people that were with him, came weary , and refreshed themselves there.
15 And Absalom , and all the people the men of Israel , came to Jerusalem , and Ahithophel with him.
16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite , David's friend , was come unto Absalom , that Hushai said unto Absalom , God save the king , God save the king .
17 And Absalom said to Hushai , Is this thy kindness to thy friend ? why wentest thou not with thy friend ?
18 And Hushai said unto Absalom , Nay; but whom the LORD , and this people , and all the men of Israel , choose , his will I be, and with him will I abide .
19 And again , whom should I serve ? should I not serve in the presence of his son ? as I have served in thy father's presence , so will I be in thy presence .
20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel , Give counsel among you what we shall do .
21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom , Go in unto thy father's concubines , which he hath left to keep the house ; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father : then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong .
22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house ; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel .
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel , which he counselled in those days , was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God : so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom .