Chapter Sixteen

David’s meetings with Ziba and Shimei. The entry of Absalom into Jerusalem. The counsel of Ahithophel.

2 Samuel 16:1. When David had come a little past the summit of the mountain, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred bunches of figs, and a skin of wine. “Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth.” See 2 Sam 9:6-11.

2 Samuel 16:2. And the king said to Ziba: what is the meaning of this? And Ziba answered: the donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and fruit are for food for the young men, and the wine is to drink for those who grow faint in the wilderness. “Donkeys for the king’s house” of David; “bread and fruit for food for the young men,” those who remained faithful to the exile; “and the wine” for those of the king’s companions who would grow weak from the journey through the wilderness.

2 Samuel 16:3. And the king said: where is your master’s son? And Ziba said to the king: behold, he remained in Jerusalem and said: Today the house of Israel will return to me the kingdom of my father. 2 Samuel 16:4. And the king said to Ziba: behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. And Ziba said, bowing down: I find favor in the sight of my master the king! Compare 2 Sam 19:24-30.

2 Samuel 16:5. When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the house of Saul came out from there, named Shimei, son of Gera; he went along, cursing, “Bahurim” — on the way from Jerusalem to the Jordan.

2 Samuel 16:10. And the king said: what have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? [leave him,] let him curse, for the Lord has commanded him to curse David. Who then can say: why are you doing this? “The Lord has commanded,” that is, permitted, him to curse David.

2 Samuel 16:11. And David said to Abishai and all his servants: behold, if my own son, who came forth from my body, seeks my life, how much more this man of Benjamin! Leave him alone, let him curse, for the Lord has commanded him; “How much more this man of Benjamin” — from the tribe of the former king Saul.

2 Samuel 16:16. When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom: Long live the king! Long live the king! “Hushai the Archite.” See 2 Sam 15:32-37.

2 Samuel 16:21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom: Go in to the concubines of your father, whom he left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have become hateful to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened. “This was meant to be, on the one hand, a striking symbol of his actual assumption of the rights of the deposed king, and on the other hand, a means to make reconciliation with his father impossible, so that Absalom himself could not return, and all who had taken his side could not waver between him and David” (Y. Bogorodsky, “Hebrew Kings,” p. 224).

2 Samuel 16:22. And they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to the concubines of his father in the sight of all Israel. See 2 Sam 12:11-12.