2 Samuel 16:7-17

7 And Shimei said, with curses, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, you good-for-nothing:
8 The Lord has sent punishment on you for all the blood of the family of Saul, whose kingdom you have taken; and the Lord has given the kingdom to Absalom, your son: now you yourself are taken in your evil, because you are a man of blood.
9 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, Is this dead dog to go on cursing my lord the king? let me go over and take off his head.
10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him go on cursing, for the Lord has said, Put a curse on David, and who then may say, Why have you done so?
11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, You see how my son, the offspring of my body, has made designs against my life: how much more then may this Benjamite do so? Let him be, and let him go on cursing; for the Lord has given him orders.
12 It may be that the Lord will take note of my wrongs, and give me back good in answer to his cursing of me today.
13 So David and his men went on their way: and Shimei went by the hillside parallel with them, cursing and sending stones and dust at him.
14 And the king and his people came tired to Jordan, and took their rest there.
15 And Absalom and the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 Then Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom and said, Long life to the king, long life to the king!
17 And Absalom said, Is this your love for your friend? why did you not go with your friend?

2 Samuel 16:7-17 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.

The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.