2 SamuelChapitre 16

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When David had gone a little beyond the summit, there was Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, coming to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

The king asked Ziba, "What are these for?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and the summer fruits are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who grow faint in the wilderness to drink."

"And where is your master's son?" the king asked. Ziba said to the king, "He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.'"

Then the king said to Ziba, "Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." Ziba said, "I bow before you. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king."

As King David approached Bahurim, a man came out from there, from the clan of the house of Saul. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out cursing as he went.

He pelted David and all King David's servants with stones, though all the troops and all the warriors were on his right and on his left.

This is what Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!

The LORD has brought back upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you, because you are a man of blood!"

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

But the king said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, for the LORD has told him, 'Curse David.' Who then can ask, 'Why have you done this?'"

And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, is seeking my life. How much more, then, this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.

Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today."

So David and his men went on their way, while Shimei kept pace with him along the hillside opposite, cursing as he went, throwing stones at him and flinging dust.

The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, and there he refreshed himself.

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

When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, he said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?"

Hushai answered Absalom, "No. The one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will stay.

And furthermore, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I served your father, so I will serve you."

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your counsel. What should we do?"

Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Now in those days the counsel Ahithophel gave was regarded as though one had inquired of the word of God—so was all Ahithophel's counsel esteemed by both David and Absalom.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 16

Main Theme: David is humbled during his flight from Absalom, while Absalom consolidates his power in Jerusalem.

Content: During David's flight from Jerusalem, he first meets Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who brings supplies and claims that Mephibosheth has betrayed David—David gives him all of Mephibosheth's property. Then Shimei, from Saul's family, curses David and throws stones at him, but David refuses to let his men kill him and accepts it as possibly coming from the Lord. In Jerusalem, David's friend Hushai arrives and declares apparent loyalty to Absalom. At Ahithophel's advice, Absalom lies with David's concubines on the roof, visible to all Israel, to demonstrate the final break with his father.

Key Words/Images:

Ziba and the Supplies – Represents opportunism and doubt about who remains loyal to David during the crisis.
Shimei's Curse – David interprets it as possible divine discipline and shows humility in suffering.
Absalom on the Roof – A public act symbolizing the complete takeover of his father's kingdom and women.
Ahithophel's Advice – Described as being like asking God himself; demonstrates his enormous influence on both sides.

Contexte historique

People

Ziba (צִיבָא) was a servant of Saul’s household and the manager of the estate belonging to Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan. His role in this chapter is controversial – he comes to David with supplies and accuses his master Mephibosheth of staying in Jerusalem in hopes of regaining Saul’s throne. In chapter 19, Mephibosheth gives a completely different account and claims that Ziba betrayed him. David’s hasty decision to transfer all of Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba without investigating the matter further shows the king in a weak and vulnerable situation.

Shimei son of Gera (שִׁמְעִי בֶן־גֵּרָא) was from Bahurim and belonged to Saul’s clan. His cursing of David as a "man of blood" (אִישׁ הַדָּמִים) reflects an attitude that may have existed among the Benjamites – that David was responsible for the downfall of Saul’s house. The expression "worthless man" (אִישׁ הַבְּלִיָּעַל) was a serious insult implying worthlessness and evil.

Hushai the Archite (חוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי) is described as David’s "friend" (רֵעֶה), which was an official court position known from Egyptian and other Eastern courts. The title "king’s friend" denoted a trusted advisor with close access to the king.

Places

Bahurim (בַּחוּרִים) was a Benjamite village east of Jerusalem on the road down toward the Jordan Valley. The place is mentioned several times in connection with David’s flight and was clearly a center of pro-Saul sentiment. Its geographical location – on David’s escape route eastward – meant he had to pass through this hostile area.

The roof of the royal palace (הַגָּג) in Jerusalem was where the tent was set up for Absalom. This was the same roof where David had seen Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2). The roof was the most visible place in the city, and the action was intended to create maximum publicity.

Events and Customs

Throwing stones and dust (verses 6, 13) expressed intense contempt and cursing. In ancient Israel, such actions were associated with mourning rituals and curses. That Shimei threw both stones and dust at the king and his entourage was an extreme insult that normally would have carried the death penalty.

Taking the fleeing king’s concubines (פִּלַגְשֵׁי) was a political act signaling complete takeover of power. In the ancient Near East, royal concubines belonged to the throne, not to the person. By taking them publicly, Absalom demonstrated that his break with his father was irreversible and that he was now the legitimate king. The public nature of the act – "in the sight of all Israel" – was crucial for its political effect.

Key Terms

The expression "man of blood" (אִישׁ הַדָּמִים) in verses 7–8 refers to someone who is guilty of shedding blood. Shimei accuses David of being responsible for the blood of "Saul’s house," possibly referring to events connected with the conflict between David and Saul’s household.

Ahithophel’s counsel (עֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל) is described as "asking God" (כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ בִּדְבַר הָאֱלֹהִים). This was the highest recognition of an advisor’s wisdom – his words were regarded as oracular and infallible. This description heightens the seriousness of the situation David faces.

Personnages11

David8 Ziba (Mephibosheth's servant)3 Ahithophel4 Shimei3 Zeruiah (David's sister)2 Abishai2 Mephibosheth2 Saul2 Gera1 Hushai (the Arkite)3 Jacob2

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Mots-clés9

Absalom — Son of King David and Maaka, who rebels against his father and seizes the throne in Jerusalem.
David — The second king of Israel, known for his skill as a warrior, musician, and poet. He is the author of many psalms.
Sheba — A Benjamite who led a rebellion against King David after Absalom's death.
Shimei — A member of Saul's family who cursed and threw stones at David while he fled from Absalom.
Hushai — David's friend and advisor, sent back to Jerusalem to spy on Absalom and give him bad advice.
Ahithophel — Former advisor to David who betrays him and supports Absalom in his rebellion.
Ziba — Servant of Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, who provides David with food and drink during his flight from Jerusalem.
Mephibosheth — Grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan, accused by Ziba of betraying David.
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