2 Samuel 16

BLIVRE · Chapter 16/24

1E quando Davi passou um pouco do cume do monte, eis que Ziba, o criado de Mefibosete, que o saía a receber com um par de asnos aprontados, e sobre eles duzentos pães, e cem cachos de passas, e cem pães de figos secos, e um odre de vinho.

2E disse o rei a Ziba: Que é isto? E Ziba respondeu: Os asnos são para a família do rei, em que s; os pães e a passa para os criados, que comam; e o vinho, para que bebam os que se cansarem no deserto.

3E disse o rei: Onde está o filho de teu senhor? E Ziba respondeu ao rei: Eis que ele ficou em Jerusalém, porque disse: Hoje me devolverá a casa de Israel o reino de meu pai.

4Então o rei disse a Ziba: Eis que, seja teu tudo o que tem Mefibosete. E respondeu Ziba inclinando-se: Rei senhor meu, ache eu favor diante de ti.

5E veio o rei Davi até Baurim: e eis que, saía um da família da casa de Saul, o qual se chamava Simei, filho de Gera; e saía amaldiçoando,

6E lançando pedras contra Davi, e contra todos os servos do rei Davi: e todo aquele povo, e todos os homens valentes estavam à sua direita e à sua esquerda.

7E dizia Simei, amaldiçoando-lhe: Sai, sai, homem sanguinário, e homem maligno!

8O SENHOR te retribuiu por todo o sangue da casa de Saul, em lugar do qual tu reinaste: mas o SENHOR entregou o reino em mãos de teu filho Absalão; e eis que estás em tua desgraça, porque és homem sanguinário.

9Então Abisai filho de Zeruia, disse ao rei: Por que almadiçoa este cão morto a meu senhor o rei? Eu te rogo que me deixes passar, e tirarei dele a cabeça.

10E o rei respondeu: Que tenho eu convosco, filhos de Zeruia? Ele almadiçoa assim, porque o SENHOR lhe disse que almadiçoasse a Davi; quem pois lhe dirá: Por que o fazes assim?

11E disse Davi a Abisai e a todos os seus servos: Eis que, meu filho que saiu de minhas entranhas, busca à minha vida: quanto mais agora um filho de Benjamim? Deixai-lhe que amaldiçoe, que o SENHOR se o disse.

12Talvez o SENHOR olhe a minha aflição, e o SENHOR me conceda o bem por suas maldições de hoje.

13E quando Davi e os seus iam pelo caminho, Simei ia pelo lado do monte diante dele, andando e amaldiçoando, e lançando pedras diante dele, e espalhando pó.

14E o rei e todo aquele povo que com ele estava, chegaram exaustos, e descansaram ali.

15E Absalão e todo aquele povo, os homens de Israel, entraram em Jerusalém, e com ele Aitofel.

16E aconteceu logo, que quando Husai arquita amigo de Davi chegou a Absalão, disse-lhe Husai: Viva o rei, viva o rei.

17E Absalão disse a Husai: Este é teu agradecimento para com teu amigo? Por que não foste com teu amigo?

18E Husai respondeu a Absalão: Não; mas sim a quem o SENHOR escolher, assim como este povo e todos os homens de Israel, dele serei eu, e com ele permanecerei.

19E a quem havia eu de servir? Não seria a seu filho? Como servi diante de teu pai, assim serei diante de ti.

20Então disse Absalão a Aitofel: Consultai que faremos.

21E Aitofel disse a Absalão: Entra às concubinas de teu pai, que ele deixou para guardar a casa; e todo aquele povo de Israel ouvirá que te fizeste aborrecível a teu pai, e assim se esforçarão as mãos de todos os que estão contigo.

22Então puseram uma tenda a Absalão sobre o terraço, e entrou Absalão às concubinas de seu pai, em olhos de todo Israel.

23E o conselho que dava Aitofel em aqueles dias, era como se consultassem a palavra de Deus. Tal era o conselho de Aitofel, assim com Davi como 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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