2 Samuel 16:1-9

Ziba, a False Servant

1 Now when David had passed ¹a little beyond the summit, behold, ²Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him ³with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine.

2 The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" And Ziba said, "⁴The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, ⁵for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink."

3 Then the king said, "And where is ⁶your master's son?" And ⁷Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.' "

4 So the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!"

David Is Cursed

5 When King David came to ⁸Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul ⁹whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ¹⁰cursing continually as he came.

6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, ¹¹you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 "¹²The LORD has returned upon you all ¹³the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!"

9 Then ¹⁴Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should ¹⁵this dead dog ¹⁶curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head."

2 Samuel 16:1-9 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 15:32
• 2. 2 Samuel 9:2-13
• 3. 1 Samuel 25:18
• 4. Judges 10:4
• 5. 2 Samuel 17:29
• 6. 2 Samuel 9:9, 10
• 7. 2 Samuel 19:26, 27
• 8. 2 Samuel 3:16; 2 Samuel 17:18
• 9. 2 Samuel 19:16-23; 1 Kin 2:8, 9, 44
• 10. Exodus 22:28; 1 Samuel 17:43
• 11. 2 Samuel 12:9
• 12. 2 Samuel 21:1-9
• 13. 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 3:28, 29; 2 Samuel 4:11, 12
• 14. 1 Samuel 26:8; 2 Samuel 19:21; Luke 9:54
• 15. 2 Samuel 9:8
• 16. Exodus 22:28

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "take off"