2 Samuel 16:3-13

3 Then the king said, "And where is ¹your master's son?" And ²Ziba 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 ³Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul ⁴whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ⁵cursing 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, ⁶you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 "⁷The LORD has returned upon you all ⁸the 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 ⁹Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should ¹⁰this dead dog ¹¹curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head."

10 But the king said, "¹²What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? ¹³If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, 'Curse David,' ¹⁴then who shall say, 'Why have you done so?' "

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, ¹⁵my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much * more * now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, ¹⁶for the LORD has told him.

12 "Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and ¹⁷return 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.

2 Samuel 16:3-13 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 9:9, 10
• 2. 2 Samuel 19:26, 27
• 3. 2 Samuel 3:16; 2 Samuel 17:18
• 4. 2 Samuel 19:16-23; 1 Kin 2:8, 9, 44
• 5. Exodus 22:28; 1 Samuel 17:43
• 6. 2 Samuel 12:9
• 7. 2 Samuel 21:1-9
• 8. 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 3:28, 29; 2 Samuel 4:11, 12
• 9. 1 Samuel 26:8; 2 Samuel 19:21; Luke 9:54
• 10. 2 Samuel 9:8
• 11. Exodus 22:28
• 12. 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 19:22
• 13. John 18:11
• 14. Romans 9:20
• 15. 2 Samuel 12:11
• 16. Genesis 45:5; 1 Samuel 26:19
• 17. Deuteronomy 23:5; Romans 8:28

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "take off"
• [b] Lit "my body"
• [c] Lit "the LORD will return"