David and Ziba
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. 1Sa 25:182Sa 15:321Ch 12:401Sa 10:31Sa 16:201Sa 17:17-182Sa 15:302Sa 17:27-29
“Why do you have these?” asked the king. 2Sa 17:29Jdg 10:4Jdg 5:101Sa 14:281Sa 25:272Sa 15:12Sa 15:232Sa 19:26
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.”
“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. 2Sa 9:9-101Ti 6:9-102Sa 19:24-30Exo 20:16Jud 1:11Mic 7:5Pro 1:19Pro 21:28
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.’”
So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” Pro 18:13Pro 18:17Deu 19:15Exo 23:8Pro 19:22Sa 14:10-112Sa 14:222Sa 14:4
“I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
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. 2Sa 3:161Ki 2:8-91Sa 17:43Exo 22:281Ki 2:36-462Sa 17:182Sa 19:16-23Ecc 10:20 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.
And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! 1Ki 21:101Ki 21:131Sa 2:121Sa 25:172Sa 11:15-172Sa 12:92Sa 3:37Deu 13:13 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!” 2Sa 1:161Ki 2:32-332Sa 3:28-29Jdg 9:24Jdg 9:56-572Sa 21:92Sa 4:8-12Act 28:4-5
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!” Exo 22:282Sa 9:81Sa 24:142Sa 3:81Pe 2:171Sa 26:6-112Sa 3:30Act 23:5
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?’” 2Sa 19:22Rom 9:20Jhn 18:111Pe 2:232Sa 3:39Dan 4:35Gen 50:20Mat 16:23
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. 2Ch 32:212Ki 19:372Sa 12:11-12Ezk 14:9Ezk 20:25Gen 15:4Gen 45:5Isa 10:5-7 Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.” Deu 23:5Heb 12:10Exo 2:24-25Mat 5:11-12Psa 25:18Rom 8:281Sa 1:112Th 1:7
So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David. Act 23:232Sa 16:5-6 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, 1 exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 2Sa 15:372Sa 15:12 And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 1Sa 10:242Ki 11:121Ki 1:251Ki 1:342Sa 15:37Dan 2:4Dan 5:10Dan 6:21
“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” 2Sa 19:252Sa 15:32-37Deu 32:6Pro 17:17Pro 18:24
“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. 1Sa 16:132Sa 5:1-3 Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” 2Sa 15:34Psa 55:211Sa 28:21Sa 29:8Gal 2:13
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?” Act 4:23-28Exo 1:10Isa 29:15Isa 8:10Mat 27:1Pro 21:30Psa 2:2Psa 37:12-13
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep 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.” 2Sa 20:32Sa 15:162Sa 2:7Lev 18:8Zec 8:131Co 5:11Ki 2:171Ki 2:22
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 2Sa 12:11-122Sa 15:162Sa 20:32Sa 11:2Ezk 24:7Isa 3:9Jer 3:3Jer 8:12
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. 2Sa 15:122Sa 17:142Sa 17:231Co 3:19-201Pe 4:111Sa 30:8Ecc 10:1Jer 4:22