2 Samuel 16:11-21

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, ¹my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much * more * now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, ²for the LORD has told him.

12 "Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and ³return good to me instead of his cursing this day."

13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside * parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.

14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15 ⁴Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 Now it came about when ⁵Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that ⁶Hushai said to Absalom, "⁷Long live the king! Long live the king!"

17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? ⁸Why did you not go with your friend?"

18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No! For whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19 "Besides, ⁹whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence."

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice. What shall we do?"

21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "¹⁰Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened."

Read Chapter Compare

2 Samuel 16:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 16

In this chapter is an account of Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, getting his inheritance by misrepresentation of him, and by presents to David, 2Sa 16:1-4; and of Shimei's cursing David as he passed along, which David bore patiently, and would not suffer others to avenge it on him, 2Sa 16:5-14; and of Hushai's offer of his service to Absalom, who admitted him to be of his privy council, 2Sa 16:15-19; and of the counsel which Ahithophel gave, 2Sa 15:20-23.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 10

1. 2 Samuel 12:11
2. Genesis 45:5; 1 Samuel 26:19
3. Deuteronomy 23:5; Romans 8:28
4. 2 Samuel 15:12, 37
5. 2 Samuel 15:37
6. 2 Samuel 15:34
7. 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Kings 11:12
8. 2 Samuel 19:25
9. 2 Samuel 15:34
10. 2 Samuel 15:16; 2 Samuel 20:3

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "my body"
[b]. Lit "the LORD will return"
[c]. Or "kindness"