2 Samuel 16
1AND when David had marched on a little way from Ros, behold Siba, the servant of Memphibosthe, came out to meet him with a couple of asses saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of dried grapes, and a hundred bunches of dates, and a nebel of wine.
2And the king said to Siba, What meanest thou by these? To which Siba replied, The asses are for the king’s family to ride on, and the loaves and the dates for the young men to eat, and the wine for such as are faint in the wilderness, to drink.
3Then the king said, But where is thy master’s son? And Siba said to the king, Behold he abideth in Jerusalem; for he said, Now will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4Thereupon the king said to Siba, Behold all that belong to Memphibosthe are thine. And Siba having bowed down said, Let me find favour in thy sight, O my lord the king.
5And when king David was going to Baurim, behold there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Semei, son of Gera.
6He came out, cursing David as he came, and throwing stones at David, and at all the servants of king David. Now all the people, even all the mighty men, were on the right and left of the king.
7And in this manner Semei expressed himself when he cursed him, Out! Out! thou man of blood! thou miscreant!
8The Lord hath retorted on thee all the blood of the house of Saul. Because thou hast reigned in his stead, therefore the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hands of Abessalom thy son. And behold thou art in distress, because thou art a bloody man.
9Whereupon Abessa, son of Saruia, said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, and I will take off his head.
10But the king said, What is it to me and you, O sons of Saruia? Let him alone, and let him curse on; for the Lord hath told him to curse David, and who shall say Why hast thou done so?
11Then David said to Abessa, and to all his servants, Behold my own son, who is descended from my loins, seeketh my life, and how much more then may this Jeminite do it! Let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.
12Perhaps the Lord may look on my affliction, and return me good for his cursing this day.
13So David and all his men proceeded on their march, and Semei went along the side of the mountain near him, cursing as he went, and throwing stones from the side of it, and casting up dust.
14And when the king arrived, and all the people with him, being fatigued, they refreshed themselves there.
15Now Abessalom and all Israel had come to Jerusalem, and Achitophel with him.
16And when Chousi, the old companion of David, came to Abessalom, Chousi said to Abessalom, God save the king!
17Whereupon Abessalom said to Chousi, Is this thy kindness for thy friend? Why hast thou not gone with thy friend?
18And Chousi said to Abessalom, shall I not follow him whom the Lord hath chosen, and this His people—even all Israel? For Him I will be; and with Him I will abide.
19And in the next place whom should I serve? Must it not be before his son? As I have served before thy father, so will I be before thee.
20Then Abessalom said to Achitophel, Consult among yourselves what we shall do.
21Thereupon Achitophel said to Abessalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, whom he hath left to keep his house; and all Israel will hear that thou hast dishonoured thy father, and the hands of all who are with thee will be strengthened.
22So they fixed up a tent for Abessalom on the top of the house, and Abessalom went in unto his father’s concubines, in the sight of all Israel.
23Now the advice which Achitophel gave in those first days, was as if one had consulted the oracle of God. Such was every advice of Achitophel both with David and with Abessalom.