2 Samuel 16

1 When David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had gone a little [a short distance, a brief time] beyond the summit [the top of the hill, the highest point], Ziba [meaning’statue’, a servant of Mephibosheth] the servant of Mephibosheth [son of Jonathan, grandson of King Saul] was there to meet [encounter, come face to face with] him. He had a pair [a team, a couple] of saddled [tied, bound] donkeys [male asses] loaded with two hundred [an abundance of] loaves of bread [food, grain], a hundred [a large quantity] clusters [bunches] of raisins [dried grapes], a hundred summer fruits [the fruit of the harvest season], and a skin [a bag, a container] of wine [fermented wine]. word study 2 “Why do you have these [what is the purpose of these things]?” asked the king [the ruler, monarch]. Ziba replied, “The donkeys [asses, male donkeys] are for the king’s [royal, sovereign] household [family, kingdom] to ride [mount, sit on], the bread [food, nourishment] and summer fruit [harvest, ripe fruit] are for the young men [youth, servants] to eat [consume, devour], and the wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] is to refresh [revitalize, renew] those who become exhausted [weary, fatigued] in the wilderness [desert, barren land].” word study 3 “Where [in what location, at what point] is your master’s [lord’s, ruler’s] grandson [son, descendant]?” asked the king [ruler, monarch]. And Ziba [the servant, attendant] answered, “Indeed [truly, surely], he is staying [dwelling, abiding] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital], for he has said [spoken, declared], ‘Today [this day, at this time], the house [family, nation] of Israel [God’s chosen people] will restore [return, give back] to me the kingdom [dominion, rule] of my grandfather [father, ancestor].’” word study 4 So the king [ruler, sovereign] said to Ziba, “All [everything, every possession] that belongs to Mephibosheth [Jonathan’s son, grandson of King Saul] is now yours [given to you, under your care]!” “I humbly [with reverence, in submission] bow before you [show respect, worship],” said Ziba. “May I find [discover, attain] favor [graciousness, kindness] in your eyes [sight, presence], my lord [master, ruler] the king [sovereign, monarch]!” word study 5 As King [ruler, monarch] David approached [came near, drew close to] Bahurim, a man [individual, person] from the family [house, clan] of the house of Saul [the king’s family, the royal lineage] was just coming out [emerging, departing]. His name [identity, character] was Shimei [desiring, heard by God] son of Gera [a pillar, support], and as he approached [drew near, came closer], he kept yelling out [cursing, reviling] curses [evil words, condemnation]. word study 6 He threw stones [with hostile intent, to harm] at David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and at all [every single one] the servants [slaves, attendants] of the king [the ruler, monarch], though the troops [warriors, army] and all [every] the mighty men [strong, courageous warriors] were on David’s right [side of honor, position of strength] and left [side of less importance, vulnerable position]. word study 7 And as he yelled curses [with reviling, in his reviling], Shimei said, “Get out [come out, begone], get out [come forth], you worthless [man of Belial, wicked] man of bloodshed [man of blood, murderer]! word study 8 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has paid you back [returned upon thee, repaid thee] for all [every, the entirety of] the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of the house [family, dynasty] of Saul [Shaul, the first king of Israel], in whose place [stead, position] you have reigned [ruled as king, exercised sovereignty], and the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme Ruler] has delivered [given, transferred] the kingdom [kingship, realm] into the hand [power, authority] of your son [offspring, descendant] Absalom [Abishalom, the son of David]. See, you have come to ruin [are taken in thy mischief, are being paid back] because you are a man [individual, person] of bloodshed [a bloody man, a murderer, one who sheds blood]!” word study 9 Then Abishai [David’s nephew] son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this [despised, worthless] dead dog curse my lord [master, ruler] the king? Let me go over [cross over, transition] and cut off [remove, take away] his head [the topmost part of the body]!” word study 10 But the king [ruler, monarch] replied, “What [why or how] have I to do with you, O sons [descendants, family] of Zeruiah [balsam tree]? If he curses [reviles, brings into contempt] me because the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] told him, ‘Curse [utter a prophetic judgment against] David,’ who [what person, which one] can ask, ‘Why [for what reason, on what account] did you do this [perform this action, bring about this result]?’” word study 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold [look, take notice], my own son [born of my body, my flesh and blood], my own flesh and blood, seeks [is trying to find, to discover] my life [my soul, my very existence]. How much more [to a greater extent], then, this Benjamite [a descendant of Benjamin, a member of the tribe of Benjamin]! Leave him alone [do not bother him, let him be] and let him curse me [speak evil of me, revile me], for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has told [commanded, instructed] him so [in this manner, for this purpose]. word study 12 Perhaps [it may be, peradventure] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will see [look on, gaze upon] my affliction [iniquity, moral evil] and repay [requite, reward] me with good [pleasant, beneficial] for the cursing [curse, wish for harm] I receive [suffer, endure] today [this day, at this time].” word study 13 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and his men proceeded along the road [way, path, or journey] as Shimei [a common Israelite name] went along the ridge [side, hillside] of the hill [mountain, high point] opposite him [close, nearby, over against]. As Shimei went [to go, walk, or proceed], he yelled curses [to lighten, bring into contempt], threw stones [to stone, cast rocks], and flung dust [to throw, cover with dust] at David. word study 14 Finally, the king [ruler, monarch] and all [everything, every person] the people [nation, community] with him [in his company, near him] arrived [came, entered], exhausted [faint, weary, tired out]. And there [in that place, at that time] he refreshed [rested, breathed again, rejuvenated] himself. word study 15 Then Absalom [the son of King David, a rebellious leader] and all [every single one, the entire nation] the men [people, individuals] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] came [approached, entered] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Israel], and Ahithophel [a wise and trusted advisor, my brother’s foolishness] was with [accompanied, allied] him. word study 16 And David’s friend [close companion, loyal associate] Hushai the Archite [from the city of Erek, a member of the Archite tribe] went to Absalom [David’s son, a rebellious leader] and said to him, “Long live [may you have a long and prosperous life, God save] the king [the monarch, the ruler]! Long live [may you have a long and prosperous life, God save] the king [the monarch, the ruler]!” word study 17 “Is this [such loyalty, faithfulness] the loyalty [kindness, mercy] you show [demonstrate, prove] your friend [companion, neighbor]?” Absalom replied [said, spoke]. “Why [for what reason, how] did you not [refused to, failed to] go [walk, journey] with [accompany, follow] your friend [companion, neighbor]?” word study 18 “Not at all,” Hushai answered [certainly not, nay]. “For the one [the supreme Lord] chosen [selected, elected] by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], by the people [this nation, Israel], and by all [every single one] the men of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]—his [as his loyal subject] I will be, and with him [in close relationship, near him] I will remain [dwell, abide]. word study 19 Furthermore, whom [who or whose presence] should I serve if not the son [a descendant, a child]? As I served [worked, labored, or was a slave] in your father’s [parent, ancestor, or predecessor] presence [face, or before], so also I will serve [work, minister, or attend] in yours [your presence, before you].” word study 20 Then Absalom [a son of King David] said to Ahithophel [one of David’s closest advisors], “Give me [provide for me, offer] counsel [advice, guidance, wisdom]. What [in what manner, how] should we do [take action, make, perform]?” word study 21 Ahithophel replied, “Sleep [go in unto, have intimate relations with] with your father’s concubines [slave wives, women who serve the household], whom he has left [to rest, to settle] to keep [watch over, protect] the palace [house, dwelling place]. When all [every, the entire] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] hears [listens, pays attention] that you have become [are regarded as, are considered] a stench [morally offensive, detestable] to your father [parent, ancestor], then the hands [power, strength] of all [every, the entire] who are with [near, accompanying] you will be strengthened [made strong, courageous].” word study 22 So they pitched [spread, set up] a tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] for Absalom [son of King David] on the roof [top of the house, highest point], and he slept [lay, had sexual relations] with his father’s [parent’s, ancestor’s] concubines [wives, female companions] in the sight [view, presence] of all [every, the entire] Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob]. word study 23 Now in those days the advice [counsel, guidance] of Ahithophel [my brother is foolishness, a wise advisor] was like the consultation [inquiry, seeking wisdom] of the word [divine message, oracle] of God [Elohim, the supreme God]. Such was the regard [respect, esteem] that both David [the beloved king] and Absalom [father of peace, a son of David] had for Ahithophel’s advice [wise counsel, plan]. word study