2 Samuel 16

ARC · Chapter 16/24

1E passando David um pouco mais adiante do cume, eis que Ziba, o moço de Mephiboseth, veiu encontrar-se com elle, com um par de jumentos albardados, e sobre elles duzentos pães, com cem cachos de passas, e cem de fructas de verão e um odre de vinho.

2E disse o rei a Ziba: Que pretendes com isto? E disse Ziba: Os jumentos são para a casa do rei, para se montarem n'elles; e o pão e as fructas de verão para comerem os moços; e o vinho para beberem os cançados no deserto.

3Então disse o rei: Ora, onde está o filho de teu senhor? E disse Ziba ao rei: Eis que ficou em Jerusalem; porque disse: Hoje me restaurará a casa de Israel o reino de meu pae.

4Então disse o rei a Ziba: Eis que teu é tudo quanto tem Mephiboseth. E disse Ziba: Eu me inclino, que eu ache graça em teus olhos, ó rei meu senhor.

5E, chegando o rei David a Bahurim, eis que d'ali saiu um homem da linhagem da casa de Saul, cujo nome era Simei, filho de Gera, e, saindo, ia amaldiçoando.

6E apedrejava com pedras a David, e a todos os servos do rei David: ainda que todo o povo e todos os valentes iam á sua direita e á sua esquerda.

7E, amaldiçoando-o Simei, assim dizia: Sae, sae, homem de sangue, e homem de Belial:

8O Senhor te deu agora a paga de todo o sangue da casa de Saul, em cujo logar tens reinado; já deu o Senhor o reino na mão de Absalão teu filho; e eis-te agora na tua desgraça, porque és um homem de sangue.

9Então disse Abisai, filho de Zeruia, ao rei: Porque amaldiçoaria este cão morto ao rei meu senhor? Deixa-me passar, e lhe tirarei a cabeça.

10Disse porém o rei: Que tenho eu comvosco, filhos de Zeruia? Ora deixae-o amaldiçoar; pois o Senhor lhe disse: Amaldiçôa a David; quem pois diria: Porque assim fizeste?

11Disse mais David a Abisai, e a todos os seus servos: Eis que meu filho, que saiu das minhas entranhas, procura a minha morte: quanto mais ainda este filho de Jemini? Deixae-o, que amaldiçoe; porque o Senhor lh'o disse.

12Porventura o Senhor olhará para a minha miseria: e o Senhor me pagará com bem sua maldição d'este dia

13Proseguiam pois o seu caminho, David e os seus homens: e tambem Simei ia ao longo do monte, defronte d'elle, caminhando e amaldiçoando, e atirava pedras contra elle, e levantava poeira.

14E o rei e todo o povo que ia com elle chegaram cansados, e refrescaram-se ali.

15Absalão pois, e todo o povo, os homens de Israel, vieram a Jerusalem: e Achitophel com elle.

16E succedeu que, chegando Husai, o archita, amigo de David, a Absalão, disse Husai a Absalão: Viva o rei, viva o rei!

17Porém Absalão disse a Husai: É esta a tua beneficencia para com o teu amigo? Porque não foste com o teu amigo?

18E disse Husai a Absalão: Não, porém d'aquelle que eleger o Senhor, e todo este povo, e todos os homens de Israel, d'elle serei e com elle ficarei.

19E, demais d'isto, a quem serviria eu? Porventura não seria diante de seu filho? Como servi diante de teu pae, assim serei diante de ti.

20Então disse Absalão a Achitophel: Dae conselho entre vós sobre o que devemos fazer.

21E disse Achitophel a Absalão: Entra ás concubinas de teu pae, que deixou para guardarem a casa; e assim todo o Israel ouvirá que te fizeste aborrecivel para com teu pae; e se esforçarão as mãos de todos os que estão comtigo.

22Estenderam pois para Absalão uma tenda no terrado: e entrou Absalão ás concubinas de seu pae, perante os olhos de todo o Israel.

23E era o conselho de Achitophel, que aconselhava n'aquelles dias, como se a palavra de Deus se consultara: tal era todo o conselho de Achitophel, assim para com David como para com Absalão.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

While fleeing, David encounters Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, who falsely accuses his master of treason, and Shimei, a relative of Saul, who publicly curses and stones him. In Jerusalem, Absalom follows Ahithophel's advice to publicly take his father's concubines, cementing his rebellion.

Explanation

David, even while being humiliated by Shimei, refuses to let his men kill him, saying that perhaps it is God's will to allow this curse — an extraordinary act of humility and trust in divine justice rather than personal revenge. Absalom's act with the concubines fulfills, word for word, Nathan's prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:11-12, showing tragic consequences unfolding exactly as God had said. This teaches that sinful decisions have concrete and sometimes public effects, not merely abstract spiritual ones.

Fun facts

  • The tent set up 'on the rooftop' for Absalom's public act was, in the ancient Near East, a gesture of claiming the throne — taking the former king's concubines symbolized full possession of the kingdom.
  • Shimei, who curses David here, reappears in 1 Kings 2, when Solomon finally deals with him after David's death.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 2 Samuel 16:1Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth, meets David during the flight, bringing donkeys loaded with bread, fruit, and wine.
  2. 2 Samuel 16:2David asks the purpose of it all, and Ziba explains that the donkeys, food, and wine are for the king, his men, and the weary in the wilderness.
  3. 2 Samuel 16:3David asks about Mephibosheth, and Ziba lies, saying he stayed in Jerusalem hoping that Saul’s kingdom would be restored to him — an accusation later shown to be false (see chapter 19).
  4. 2 Samuel 16:4Without checking the story, David hands over to Ziba everything that belonged to Mephibosheth, and Ziba bows in gratitude.
  5. 2 Samuel 16:5Arriving at Bahurim, a man from Saul’s family named Shimei comes out cursing David throughout the flight.
  6. 2 Samuel 16:6Shimei throws stones at David and his servants, even though they are surrounded by the king’s mighty men.
  7. 2 Samuel 16:7Shimei calls David a man of blood and a worthless man, blaming him for the fall of Saul’s house.
  8. 2 Samuel 16:8Shimei accuses David of the bloodshed of the “house of Saul,” reopening an old clan grudge: even years after Saul’s death, part of his family and tribe still saw David as a usurper, and the flight from Jerusalem looked to Shimei like proof that justice had finally arrived.
  9. 2 Samuel 16:9Abishai offers to cross over and cut off Shimei’s head for daring to curse the king.
  10. 2 Samuel 16:10David refuses Abishai’s offer, saying that if the Lord told Shimei to curse him, no one should question it.
  11. 2 Samuel 16:11David recalls that his own son, Absalom, seeks his life — so he is not surprised by the curse of some Benjamite.
  12. 2 Samuel 16:12David hopes that the Lord will see his affliction and repay him with good in place of this curse.
  13. 2 Samuel 16:13As David goes on his way, Shimei keeps walking along the hillside, cursing, throwing stones, and kicking up dust.
  14. 2 Samuel 16:14The king and all the people with him arrive weary at a place where they can finally rest.
  15. 2 Samuel 16:15Absalom enters Jerusalem with all the people of Israel, and Ahithophel is with him as counselor.
  16. 2 Samuel 16:16Hushai, David’s friend, comes to Absalom and feigns loyalty, shouting “God save the king” as part of the plan arranged with David.
  17. 2 Samuel 16:17Absalom is puzzled and asks Hushai why he did not leave with his old friend David.
  18. 2 Samuel 16:18Hushai answers with calculated ambiguity, saying he will stand with whomever the Lord and the people of Israel choose.
  19. 2 Samuel 16:19Hushai finishes his explanation: just as he served the father, he would now stand before the son — a speech designed to win Absalom’s trust.
  20. 2 Samuel 16:20Absalom asks Ahithophel to advise what the next step should be.
  21. 2 Samuel 16:21Ahithophel advises Absalom to take his own father’s concubines publicly, so that all Israel will see that the break is final and his supporters will be strengthened.
  22. 2 Samuel 16:22Lying with his father’s concubines, in full view of all the people, was the strongest gesture Absalom could make to announce that he was seizing the throne for good — claiming the former king’s women amounted, in the politics of that time, to claiming the kingdom itself.
  23. 2 Samuel 16:23The text notes that Ahithophel’s counsel was so respected in that era that it seemed to come straight from the word of God.

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