David and Ziba
1David went just beyond the top of the Mount of Olives. Ziba was waiting there to meet him. He was Mephibosheth’s manager. He had several donkeys with saddles on them. They were carrying 200 loaves of bread and 100 raisin cakes. They were also carrying 100 fig cakes and a bottle of wine. The bottle was made out of animal skin.
2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought all these things?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride on. The bread and fruit are for the people to eat. The wine will make those who get tired in the desert feel like new again.”
3Then the king asked, “Where is your master’s grandson Mephibosheth?”
Ziba said to him, “He’s staying in Jerusalem. He thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will cause me to rule once again over my grandfather Saul’s kingdom.’ ”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth belongs to you now.”
“You are my king and master,” Ziba said. “I make myself humble in front of you. I bow down to you. May you be pleased with me.”
Shimei Curses David
5King David approached Bahurim. As he did, a man came out toward him. The man was from the same family group that Saul was from. His name was Shimei. He was the son of Gera. As he came out of the town, he cursed David. 6He threw stones at David and all his officials. He did it even though all the troops and the special guard were there. They were to the right and left of David. 7As Shimei cursed, he said, “Get out! Get out, you murderer! You are a worthless and evil man! 8You spilled the blood of a lot of people in Saul’s family. You took over his kingdom. Now the Lord is paying you back. He has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have been destroyed because you are a murderer!”
9Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, spoke to the king. He said, “King David, why should we let this dead dog curse you? Let me go over there. I’ll cut off his head.”
10But the king said, “You and Joab are sons of Zeruiah. What does this have to do with you? Maybe the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David.’ If he did, who can ask him, ‘Why are you doing this?’ ”
11Then David spoke to Abishai and all his officials. He said, “My very own son Absalom is trying to kill me. How much more should this man from Benjamin want to kill me! Leave him alone. Let him curse. The Lord has told him to do it. 12Maybe the Lord will see how much I’m suffering. Maybe he’ll bring back to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse I’m hearing today.”
13So David and his men kept going along the road. At the same time, Shimei was going along the hillside across from him. He was cursing David as he went. He was throwing stones at David. He was showering him with dirt. 14The king and all the people with him came to the place they had planned to go to. They were very tired. So David rested there.
Ahithophel and Hushai Give Advice to Absalom
15During that time, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was with him. 16Then Hushai, the Arkite, went to Absalom. He said to him, “May the king live a long time! May the king live a long time!” Hushai was David’s trusted friend.
17Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the way you show love to your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”
18Hushai said to Absalom, “Why should I? You are the one the Lord has chosen. These people and all the men of Israel have also chosen you. I want to be on your side. I want to stay with you. 19After all, who else should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve the king’s son? I will serve you, just as I served your father.”
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
21Ahithophel answered, “Your father left some concubines behind to take care of the palace. Go and sleep with them. Then all the Israelites will hear about it. They will hear that you have made your father hate you. Everyone with you will be encouraged to give you more support.” 22So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace. He went in and slept with his father’s concubines. Everyone in Israel saw it.
23In those days the advice Ahithophel gave was as good as advice from someone who asks God for guidance. That’s what David and Absalom thought about all of Ahithophel’s advice.
Ziba hjælper David
1David fortsatte ned ad vejen på den anden side af Olivenbjerget og mødte kort efter Ziba, som havde været Sauls tjener og nu bestyrede Mefiboshets ejendom. Ziba havde to æsler med sig. De havde sadler på og var læssede med 200 brød, 100 rosinkager, 100 figner16,1 Det vides ikke med sikkerhed hvilke frugter, der er tale om. Den hebraiske tekst siger sommerfrugter, der sandsynligvis henviser til figner, men LXX taler om dadler. og en lædersæk med vin.
2„Hvor skal du hen med de ting?” spurgte kongen.
Ziba svarede: „Æslerne er en gave til kongens familie, så de har noget at ride på. Brødet, kagerne og frugten er til folkene—og vinen skal styrke dem, der bliver udmattede i ørkenen.”
3„Hvor er Mefiboshet?” spurgte kongen ham.
„Han blev i Jerusalem,” svarede Ziba, „for han tænkte: Nu vil israelitterne give mig min farfars kongedømme tilbage!”
4„Så overdrager jeg al hans ejendom til dig, Ziba!” udbrød kongen opbragt.
„Mange, mange tak!” svarede Ziba og bøjede sig til jorden. „Måtte jeg altid bevare kongens velvilje.”
Shimi forbander David
5Da David og hans følge passerede Bahurim, kom en mand fra landsbyen ud og råbte forbandelser efter dem. Det var Shimi, Geras søn. Han var en slægtning til Saul. 6Han kastede sten efter kongen og hans tjenere til trods for, at de var omgivet af hele hæren og livvagten.
7-8„Forsvind, din morder—din bandit!” skreg han mod David. „Nu betaler Herren dig tilbage, fordi du myrdede kong Sauls familie for selv at overtage tronen. Nu har Herren overdraget den til din søn Absalom! Din morder! Nu får du, hvad du har fortjent!”
9„Hvor længe skal den forbandede køter have lov til at overfuse kongen?” spurgte Abishaj, Zerujas søn. „Lad mig gå hen og hugge hovedet af ham!”
10„I tænker kun på hævn, Zerujas sønner,” svarede David. „Hvis Herren har givet ham besked på at forbande mig—hvem er da jeg, at jeg skulle standse ham? 11Min egen søn søger at slå mig ihjel, men denne benjaminit forbander mig jo kun. Lad ham være, for Herren er med i det. 12Måske vil Herren ynkes over mig og vende forbandelserne til noget godt.”
13Så gik David og hans mænd videre, men Shimi fulgte med i sikker afstand oppe på bakkeskråningen og fortsatte med at forbande David og smide sten og jord efter ham. 14Da kongen og hans følge nåede vadestedet ved Jordanfloden, var de så udmattede, at de måtte holde et langt hvil.
Hushaj tilbyder Absalom sin tjeneste
15I mellemtiden havde Absalom holdt sit indtog i Jerusalem, ledsaget af sine folk og af Ahitofel. 16Davids ven, arkitten Hushaj, opsøgte ham øjeblikkelig.
„Kongen leve! Kongen længe leve!” hilste han.
17„Er det en måde at behandle din ven David på?” spurgte Absalom. „Hvorfor er du ikke fulgt med ham?”
18„Fordi jeg foretrækker at holde med den mand, som Herren og hans folk Israel har valgt,” svarede Hushaj. 19„Er der noget forkert i det? Tidligere hjalp jeg din far, nu vil jeg gerne hjælpe dig.”
Ahitofel som Absaloms rådgiver
20Derefter sagde Absalom henvendt til Ahitofel: „Hvad skal vi så gøre nu? Kom med et godt råd!” 21Ahitofel kom med følgende forslag: „Du skal gå i seng med din fars medhustruer, som han efterlod i paladset! Så vil hele Israels folk indse, at du har krænket ham så groft, at al forsoning er udelukket, og dine tilhængere vil vide, at du mener det alvorligt med dit oprør imod ham.”
22Så blev der rejst et telt på paladsets flade tag, hvor alle kunne se det, og ved højlys dag gik Absalom ind i teltet og lå med sin fars medhustruer, den ene efter den anden.
23Absalom fulgte altid Ahitofels råd, ligesom David tidligere havde gjort, for når Ahitofel talte, mente man, at han talte på Guds vegne.
