📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 16 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 16:1 And when David was a Rlittle past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 Samuel 16:2 And the king said unto Ziba, RWhat meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
2 Samuel 16:3 And the king said, And Rwhere is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
2 Samuel 16:4 Then said the king to Ziba, RBehold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, TI humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to RBahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: The came forth, and cursed still as he came.
2 Samuel 16:6 And 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.
2 Samuel 16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou RTbloody man, and thou man of Belial:
2 Samuel 16:8 The LORD hath Rreturned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, Tbehold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
2 Samuel 16:9 Then said RAbishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
2 Samuel 16:10 And the king said, RWhat have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
2 Samuel 16:11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, RBehold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
2 Samuel 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine Taffliction, and that the LORD will Rrequite me good for his cursing this day.
2 Samuel 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and Rcursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and Tcast dust.
2 Samuel 16:14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
2 Samuel 16:15 And RAbsalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
2 Samuel 16:16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, TGod save the king, God save the king.
2 Samuel 16:17 And Absalom said to Hushai, RIs this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
2 Samuel 16:18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
2 Samuel 16:19 And again, whom should I serve? Rshould I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
2 Samuel 16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, RGive counsel among you what we shall do.
2 Samuel 16:21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, RGo in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
2 Samuel 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon Rthe top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
2 Samuel 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was Ras if a man had enquired at the Toracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 16:1–4 — Ziba’s supplies and accusation
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ziba brings food and transport to the fleeing king and accuses Mephibosheth of seeking the kingdom. David gives him Mephibosheth’s property. The accusation is Ziba’s report; chapter 19 later supplies Mephibosheth’s response. Do not present one side as a settled account before hearing the other.
Key Truth: Helpful gifts do not establish the truth of an accusation.
Check What You Remember
1. Who brought supplies to David? (2 Samuel 16:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:1 (KJV).
2. Whom did Ziba accuse of remaining to seek the kingdom? (2 Samuel 16:3)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:3 (KJV).
3. To whom did David give Mephibosheth’s property? (2 Samuel 16:4)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 16:5–14 — David restrains retaliation against Shimei
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Shimei curses David and throws stones. Abishai wants to kill him, but David refuses and hopes the LORD will look on his affliction. Shimei’s accusations are his interpretation of events, not the narrator’s verdict. David’s restraint avoids adding an immediate killing to the crisis.
Key Truth: Responding to insult need not mean retaliating in anger.
Check What You Remember
1. Who cursed David at Bahurim? (2 Samuel 16:5)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:5 (KJV).
2. What did Shimei throw? (2 Samuel 16:6)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:6 (KJV).
3. Who asked permission to kill him? (2 Samuel 16:9)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 16:15–23 — A public assault on David’s household
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Hushai presents himself to Absalom, while Ahithophel advises a public act involving David’s concubines to make the breach unmistakable. Absalom follows that advice. The women are caught in a struggle for power; the account must not be read as approval of their treatment. Ahithophel’s reputation does not make every counsel morally right.
Key Truth: Influential advice must still be judged by righteousness.
Check What You Remember
1. Which friend of David appeared before Absalom? (2 Samuel 16:16)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:16 (KJV).
2. Whom did Absalom ask for counsel? (2 Samuel 16:20)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:20 (KJV).
3. Where was the tent spread? (2 Samuel 16:22)
Find it in 2 Samuel 16:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Proverbs 18:17 — This proverb explains why hearing the other side matters.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How do pressure and impressive people affect your judgment? Consider where you should verify an accusation and resist advice that harms others.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What caution is needed when reading the accusation against Mephibosheth?
2. How does Abishai’s response to Shimei differ from David’s?
3. What comparison does David make to explain bearing Shimei’s abuse?
4. How does Hushai explain his apparent service to Absalom?
5. What political effect does Ahithophel say his counsel about the concubines will have?
Notes
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