David and Ziba
1When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.
2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”
Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”
9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
10But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ ”
11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai
15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”
18Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
21Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
Daudi Na Siba
116:1 2Sam 9:1-3; 1Sam 25:18; 1Nya 12:40; 2Sam 15:30Daudi alipokuwa amekwenda umbali mfupi kupita kilele cha mlima, akamkuta huko Siba, msimamizi wa shughuli za Mefiboshethi, akingojea kumlaki Daudi. Alikuwa na punda wawili wakiwa wametandikwa na kupakiwa mikate mia mbili, maandazi mia ya zabibu kavu, maandazi mia ya tini na kiriba cha divai.
216:2 2Sam 17:27-29; Amu 5:10; 10:4; 1Sam 25:27; 2Sam 15:23; Mit 15:23; 31:6; Za 104:15; 1Tim 5:23Mfalme Daudi akamuuliza Siba, “Kwa nini umeleta vitu hivi?”
Siba akamjibu, “Punda ni kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumba ya mfalme kupanda, mikate na matunda ni kwa ajili ya watu kula, nayo divai ni kwa kuwaburudisha watakaochoka jangwani.”
316:3 2Sam 9:9-10; 19:26-27Kisha mfalme akauliza, “Yuko wapi mwana wa bwana wako?”
Siba akamwambia, “Anakawia Yerusalemu, kwa sababu anafikiri, ‘Leo nyumba ya Israeli itanirudishia utawala wa baba yangu.’ ”
416:4 2Sam 4:4; 14:10-11; Mit 18:13Ndipo mfalme akamwambia Siba, “Yote yaliyokuwa mali ya Mefiboshethi sasa ni mali yako.”
Siba akasema, “Nasujudu kwa unyenyekevu. Naomba nipate kibali mbele yako, bwana wangu mfalme.”
Shimei Amlaani Daudi
516:5 2Sam 3:16; 19:16-23; 1Fal 2:8, 36, 44; Kut 22:28; 2Sam 19:16Mfalme Daudi alipokuwa anakaribia Bahurimu, mtu mmoja kutoka ukoo huo huo kama jamaa ya Sauli, akatoka humo, ambaye jina lake ni Shimei mwana wa Gera; akawa analaani alipokuwa akitoka. 6Akamtupia Daudi na maafisa wote wa mfalme mawe, ingawa vikosi vyote na walinzi maalum walikuwa kulia na kushoto mwa Daudi. 7Shimei alivyokuwa akilaani, akasema, “Toka hapa, toka hapa, wewe mtu wa damu, wewe mtu mbaya kabisa! 816:8 2Sam 19:28; 21:9; 19:19; Za 55:3; Amu 9:24; 1Fal 2:32-33; Ufu 16:6Bwana amekulipiza kwa ajili ya damu yote uliyomwaga ya watu wa nyumba ya Sauli, ambaye nafasi yake umeimiliki wewe. Bwana amekabidhi ufalme mkononi mwa mwanao Absalomu. Maangamizi yamekupata kwa sababu wewe ni mtu wa damu!”
916:9 1Sam 26:6; 2Sam 3:8, 39; Lk 9:54; Kut 22:28Ndipo Abishai mwana wa Seruya akamwambia mfalme, “Kwa nini huyu mbwa mfu amlaani bwana wangu mfalme? Niruhusu nivuke nikatilie mbali kichwa chake.”
1016:10 2Sam 2:18; 19:22; Rum 9:20; 2Sam 3:39; 1Pet 2:23; 1Fal 18:25; Mao 3:38Lakini mfalme akamwambia, “Mna nini nami, enyi wana wa Seruya? Ikiwa analaani kwa sababu Bwana amemwambia, ‘Mlaani Daudi,’ nani awezaye kuuliza, ‘Kwa nini unafanya hivi?’ ”
1116:11 2Sam 12:11; Mwa 45:5; 1Sam 26:17Ndipo Daudi akamwambia Abishai na maafisa wake wote, “Mwanangu, yeye ambaye ametoka viunoni mwangu mwenyewe, anajaribu kuuondoa uhai wangu. Je, si zaidi sana kwa huyu Mbenyamini! Mwacheni, acha alaani, kwa maana Bwana amemwambia afanye hivyo. 1216:12 Za 4:1; 25:18; Kum 23:5; Rum 8:28; Mwa 29:32; Za 37:7; Yer 24:5-7; Mao 3:22-26; Mt 5:11-12; 2Kor 4:17Inawezekana kwamba Bwana ataona dhiki yangu na kunilipa mema kwa ajili ya laana ninayopokea leo.”
13Kwa hiyo Daudi na watu wake wakaendelea na safari yao barabarani, huku Shimei akiwa anatembea pembezoni mwa kilima sambamba na Daudi, huku akimlaani na kumtupia Daudi mawe na kumrushia mavumbi. 1416:14 Za 109:28; 2Sam 17:2Mfalme na watu wote aliokuwa pamoja nao wakafika kwenye kituo chao wakiwa wamechoka. Mfalme akajiburudisha hapo.
Shauri La Hushai Na Ahithofeli
1516:15 2Sam 15:37; 15:12Wakati huo, Absalomu pamoja na watu wote wa Israeli wakafika Yerusalemu, naye Ahithofeli alikuwa pamoja naye. 1616:16 2Sam 15:32Ndipo Hushai, Mwariki, rafiki wa Daudi, akamwendea Absalomu na kumwambia, “Mfalme aishi maisha marefu! Mfalme aishi maisha marefu!”
1716:17 2Sam 19:24-25; Mit 17:17; 2Sam 15:32Absalomu akamuuliza Hushai, “Je, huu ndio upendo unaomwonyesha rafiki yako? Kwa nini hukufuatana na rafiki yako?”
18Hushai akamwambia Absalomu, “La hasha, yeye aliyechaguliwa na Bwana, aliyechaguliwa na watu hawa, atakayechaguliwa tena na watu wote wa Israeli, huyu ndiye nitakayekuwa wake, nami nitabakia pamoja naye. 1916:19 2Sam 15:34; 1Sam 28:2Zaidi ya hayo, nimtumikie nani? Je, nisimtumikie mwana? Kama vile nilivyomtumikia baba yako, ndivyo nitakavyokutumikia wewe.”
2016:20 Kut 1:10; Za 37:12-15; Mit 21:30; Mt 27:1Absalomu akamwambia Ahithofeli, “Tupe shauri lako. Tufanye nini?”
2116:21 Mwa 35:22; 2Sam 12:11; 15:16; Zek 8:13; Law 8:18; 20:11; Kum 22:30; 27:20; Mit 28:7; Isa 3:9; Mik 7:3-6Ahithofeli akamjibu, “Kutana kimwili na masuria wa baba yako aliowaacha kutunza jumba la kifalme. Ndipo Israeli yote itakaposikia kwamba umejifanya chukizo kwa baba yako, nayo mikono ya kila mmoja aliye pamoja nawe itatiwa nguvu.” 2216:22 2Sam 3:7; 12:11-12; 15:16Kwa hiyo wakasimika hema kwa ajili ya Absalomu juu ya paa, naye akakutana kimwili na masuria wa baba yake mbele ya Israeli wote.
2316:23 2Sam 17:14, 23; 15:12Ilikuwa katika siku hizo shauri lililotolewa na Ahithofeli lilikuwa kama lile ambalo limeulizwa kwa Mungu. Ndivyo Daudi na Absalomu walivyoyaheshimu mashauri yote ya Ahithofeli.
