2 Samuel 16:3-13

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.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. I humbly...: Heb. I do obeisance
• [b]. he came forth...: or, he still came forth and cursed
• [c]. bloody...: Heb. man of blood
• [d]. behold...: Heb. behold thee in thy evil
• [e]. affliction: or, tears: Heb. eye
• [f]. cast...: Heb. dusted him with dust