2 Samuel 16

Absalom Installs Himself

Summary: Ziba (the steward of Mephibosheth) brings provisions for David (v.1). David accepts the cursing of Shimei and stones being thrown at him. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Ahithophel told Absalom to sleep with David’s concubines in the sight of all the people (vv.21-22). Ahithophel’s advice is foolish (v.23).

Ziba: Mephibosheth’s servant

(16:1) Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s physically handicapped son, whom David had shown mercy to earlier.

Ziba (Mephibosheth’s servant) seems to be going rogue. Later Mephibosheth tells David that Ziba had “deceived” him in doing this (2 Sam. 19:26).

(16:2) David is suspicious of Ziba: “Why do you have these?” Ziba dodges the question.

(16:3) David seems to still be suspicious, asking where Mephibosheth is, so that he can speak for himself. Ziba states that Mephibosheth is trying to reclaim the throne. Again, Ziba is betraying Mephibosheth here, and later, Mephibosheth denies that this was true (2 Sam. 19:26-28).

(16:4) For the time being, David takes Ziba at his word, giving Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba.

Shimei—from the house of Saul—curses David

(16:5) Shimei “curses” David. Remember, the Abrahamic Covenant stated that whoever “curses you will be cursed” (Gen. 12:3). Moreover, the Mosaic law forbid “cursing” a ruler (Ex. 22:28). David doesn’t seek revenge on Shimei. In fact, Shimei repents of these curses later (2 Sam. 19:18-20). However, David still doesn’t trust Shimei, and he tells Solomon to kill Shimei on his deathbed (1 Kings 2:8-9).

(16:6) Shimei throws stones at David, but it seems like David is protected by his entourage of soldiers “at his right hand and at his left.”

(16:7-8) Shimei claims that David is losing his throne because of his bloodshed toward the house of Saul. This is blatantly false. David held his hand from killing Saul.

(16:9) Abishai was the man who wanted to kill Saul, while he was sleeping in his tent (1 Sam. 26:8). Later, Abishai will urge David to kill Shimei.

(16:10-12) This picture shows even more passivity from David. A man is cursing him and his family, and he just stands there and takes it. There is a mark of David’s faith beneath this—namely, he wants God to adjudicate the situation. However, David is a broken man here.

(16:13) Shimei continues to follow David and his men, cursing and throwing stones at them the entire way. (This guy has some serious courage to throw stones at a large group of David and his men!)

(16:14) David and his men finally arrive at Bahurim (v.5) or perhaps beyond it (2 Sam. 17:18).

In the meantime, what is Absalom doing in Jerusalem?

(16:15-16) Hushai was sent by David to be a secret agent in Absalom’s court (2 Sam. 15:32ff). Will Absalom fall for this? Or will he see through Hushai’s deception?

(16:17) This question can be translated as a cutting statement: “So this is the love you show your friend!”[]

(16:18-19) Hushai tells Absalom what David had told him to say (2 Sam. 15:32). Commentators note that Hushai is being deliberately ambiguous throughout this section, playing on Absalom’s pride that Hushai is speaking about him, rather than David.[]

(16:20-23) Absalom asks Ahithophel (his counselor) for advice. Instead of rendering a verdict regarding Hushai, Ahithophel tells Absalom to have an orgy with David’s ten concubines. He does this in “the sight of all Israel” (v.21). This parallels David’s sin of sleeping with Bathsheba: David saw Bathsheba from this same rooftop of the palace (2 Sam. 11:2). What David did in secret, Absalom did in public, fulfilling the prediction of Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 12:10).

David keeps these women as widows when he returns (2 Sam. 20:3).

(16:23) Ahithophel’s advice was not God’s truth, but it was “as if one inquired of the word of God” (NASB) or “like that of one who inquires of God” (NLT).