David had passed a little beyond the summit when Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came toward him with a pair of saddled donkeys carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred cakes of raisin, one hundred cakes of figs,afigs Lit. “summer fruit.” and a jar of wine.
The king asked Ziba, “What are you doing with these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for Your Majesty’s family to ride on, the bread and figs are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is to be drunk by any who are exhausted in the wilderness.”
“And where is your master’s son?” the king asked. “He is staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he thinks that the House of Israel will now give him back the throne of his grandfather.”
GOD is paying you back for all your crimes against the family of Saul, whose throne you seized. GOD is handing over the throne to your son Absalom; you are in trouble because you are a criminal!”
But the king said, “What has this to do with you,bWhat has this to do with you Lit. “What have I and you.” you sons of Zeruiah? He is abusing [me] only because GOD told him to abuse David; and who is to say, ‘Why did You do that?’”
David said further to Abishai and all the courtiers, “If my son, my own issue, seeks to kill me, how much more the Benjaminite! Let him go on hurling abuse, for GOD has told him to.
Perhaps GOD will look upon my punishmentcpunishment So kethib; qere “eye.” Ancient versions read “suffering.” and recompense me for the abuse [Shimei] has uttered today.”
David and his men continued on their way, while Shimei walked alongside on the slope of the hill, insulting him as he walked, and throwing stones at him and flinging dirt.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וילך
66
דוד
14
ואנשיו
373
בדרךסושמעי
712
הלך
55
בצלע
192
ההר
210
לעמתו
546
הלוך
61
ויקלל
176
ויסקל
206
באבנים
105
לעמתו
546
ועפר
356
בעפרפ
432
II Samuel 16:14
Gematria: 2189
ויבאהמלךוכלהעםאשראתועיפיםוינפששם
The king and all who accompanied him arriveddarrived Some Septuagint mss. add “at the Jordan.” exhausted, and he rested there.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויבא
19
המלך
95
וכלהעם
171
אשראתו
908
עיפים
210
וינפש
446
שם
340
II Samuel 16:15
Gematria: 2945
ואבשלוםוכלהעםאישישראלבאוירושלםואחיתפלאתו
Meanwhile Absalom and all the troops, Israel’s force, arrived in Jerusalem, together with Ahithophel.
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Have intercourse with your father’s concubines, whom he left to mind the palace; and when all Israel hears that you have dared the wrath of your father, all who support you will be encouraged.”
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom lay with his father’s concubines with the full knowledgefwith the full knowledge Lit. “before the eyes.” of all Israel.—
In those days, the advice that Ahithophel gave was accepted like an oracle sought from God; that is how all the advice of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.