2 Samuel 16 - Easy To Read Version

¹ David went a short way over the top {of the Mount of Olives} and met Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. The donkeys also carried 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a wineskin full of wine.

² King David said to Ziba, “What are these things for?”

³ Then the king asked, “And where is Mephibosheth?” [92]

⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “{Because of that,} I now give you everything that belonged to Mephibosheth.”

⁵ David came to Bahurim. A man from Saul’s family came out from Bahurim. This man’s name was Shimei son of Gera. Shimei came out saying bad things to David. And he kept saying bad things again and again.

⁶ Shimei began throwing stones at David and his officers. But the people and the soldiers gathered around David—they were all around him.

⁷ Shimei cursed David. He said, “Get out, get out, you no-good murderer! [94]

⁸ The Lord is punishing you. Why? Because you killed people in Saul’s family. You stole Saul’s place as king. But now the same bad things are happening to you. The Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Why? Because you are a murderer.” [95]

⁹ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse you, my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off Shimei’s head.”

¹⁰ But the king answered, “What can I do, sons of Zeruiah? Sure, Shimei is cursing me. But the Lord told him to curse me.”

¹¹ David also said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my very own son (Absalom) is trying to kill me. This man (Shimei) from the family group of Benjamin has more right to kill me. Let him alone. Let him keep on saying bad things to me. The Lord told him to do this.

¹² Maybe the Lord will see the wrong things that are happening to me. Then maybe the Lord will give me something good for every bad thing that Shimei says today.”

¹³ So David and his men went on {their way} down the road. But Shimei kept following David. Shimei walked on the other side of the road by the side of the hill. Shimei kept saying bad things to David on his way. Shimei also threw stones and dirt at David.

¹⁴ King David and all his people came to {the Jordan River}. The king and his people were tired. So they rested and refreshed themselves there.

¹⁵ Absalom, Ahithophel, and all the people of Israel came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ David’s friend, Hushai the Arkite, came to Absalom. Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom answered, “Why are you not loyal to your friend {David}? Why did you not leave {Jerusalem} with your friend?”

¹⁸ Hushai said, “I belong to the person that the Lord chooses. These people and the people of Israel chose you. I will stay with you.

¹⁹ In the past, I served your father. So, now I should serve David’s son. I will serve you.”

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Please tell us what we should do.”

²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Your father left some of his wives [96] here to take care of the house. Go and have sexual relations with them. Then all the Israelites will hear that your father hates you. And all of your people will be encouraged to give you more support.”

²² Then they put up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the house. [97] And Absalom had sexual relations with his father’s wives. [98] All the Israelites saw it.

²³ At that time, the advice of Ahithophel was very {important} to both David and Absalom. It was as {important as} God’s word to a man.