2 Samuel 16

When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine.

The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.”

The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.

He cast stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!

The LORD has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.

It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me good for the cursing of me today.”

So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust.

The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary; and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but whomever the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, I will be his, and I will stay with him.

Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel what we shall do.”

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this both with David and with Absalom.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter unfolds during David’s anguish-filled flight from Jerusalem as his son Absalom pursues him to seize the throne. It highlights the intertwining of political treachery, personal betrayal, and divine sovereignty. Amid physical exhaustion and emotional turmoil, David confronts slander from Shimei, receives ambiguous aid from Ziba, and navigates the cunning counsel of Absalom’s advisors, particularly Ahithophel. The events underscore the painful consequences of past sin while revealing David’s posture of submission to God’s will even in suffering.

Flow.

David, fleeing Jerusalem, is met by Ziba, who brings supplies and falsely accuses Mephibosheth of disloyalty, prompting David to transfer Mephibosheth’s inheritance to Ziba.
As David continues, Shimei curses him violently, throwing stones and dust, but David restrains his men, interpreting the abuse as possibly ordained by God.
Meanwhile, Absalom enters Jerusalem in triumph, receiving the support of the people and Ahithophel’s shrewd, dishonorable counsel—to publicly take David’s concubines as a sign of complete repudiation.
The chapter closes with the observation that Ahithophel’s advice is as authoritative as divine oracles, heightening the spiritual stakes of the conflict.

Connections.
Following chapter 15, in which Absalom launches his rebellion and David flees the city in mourning, chapter 16 deepens the crisis by showing the collapse of David’s support and the accelerating momentum of Absalom’s usurpation. The betrayals by Ziba and Shimei, though personally painful, are presented as part of the broader unraveling set in motion by David’s earlier failures—particularly his sins with Bathsheba and against Uriah (). The morally devastating advice of Ahithophel to violate the concubines recalls Nathan’s prophecy that David’s own household would rise against him. This prepares the way for chapter 17, which escalates the conflict with competing counsels—Hushai’s loyal counter-strategy against Ahithophel’s wisdom—and sets the stage for divine deliverance through unexpected means.

What it teaches.
The chapter illustrates the reality of God’s providential governance even amid human sin and suffering. David’s restraint in the face of Shimei’s cursing reflects a belief in divine sovereignty over adversity (cf. WCF 5.6; LC 80), acknowledging that affliction may be a form of chastisement or testing. The defilement of David’s concubines fulfills the word of the LORD through Nathan (), affirming that the consequences of sin, though pardoned, can remain (WCF 15.6; HC LD 52). Hushai’s feigned allegiance is an act of stealth loyalty, showing how God can use hidden means to preserve His purposes (WCF 3.7; CD I.17). The authority ascribed to Ahithophel’s counsel reflects how wisdom, even when employed for evil, derives from God’s common gifts (WCF 10.4), yet remains subject to His sovereign overruling.

Apply.
When wronged or opposed, receive it as under God’s eye, neither hastily avenging nor despairing, but trusting His justice and timing.

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