1-4 Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance 5-8 At Bahurim Shimei curse David 9-14 David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge 15-19 Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel 20-23 Ahithophel's counsel

little past 2Sa 15:30,32

Ziba 2Sa 9:2,9-12

with a couple 2Sa 17:27-29 19:32 1Sa 17:17,18 25:18 1Ch 12:40 Pr 18:16 29:4,5

summer These were probably pumpkins, cucumbers, or water-melons; the two latter being extensively used in the East to refresh travellers in the burning heat of the summer; and probably, as Mr. harmer supposes, called {summer fruits} on this very account. Jer 40:10,12 Am 8:1 Mic 7:1

a bottle 1Sa 10:3 16:20

2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

What meanest Ge 21:29 Eze 37:18 The asses. This is the eastern mode of speaking when presenting any thing to a great man: `This is for the slaves of the servants of your majesty;' when at the same time the presents are intended for the sovereign himself, and it is so understood. 2Sa 15:1 19:26 Jud 5:10 10:4

for the young 1Sa 25:27

that such 2Sa 15:23 17:29 Jud 8:4,5 1Sa 14:28 Pr 31:6,7

3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

where is 2Sa 9:9,10 Ps 88:18 Mic 7:5

Today 2Sa 19:24-30 Ex 20:16 De 19:18,19 Ps 15:3 101:5 Pr 1:19 21:28 1Ti 6:9,10 Jude 1:11

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

Behold 2Sa 14:10,11 Ex 23:8 De 19:15 Pr 18:13,17 19:2

I humbly beseech thee. [heb] I do obeisance 2Sa 14:4,22

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

Bahurim This place is supposed to be the same as {Almon} (Jos 21:18) and {Almeth} (1ch 6:60,) a city of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem, and apparently not far from Olivet. 2Sa 16:14 3:16 17:18

whose name 2Sa 19:16 1Ki 2:8,9,36-44

he came, etc. or, he still came forth and cursed
cursed Ex 22:28 1Sa 17:43 Ps 69:26 109:16-19,28 Pr 26:2 Ec 10:20 Isa 8:21 Mt 5:11,12

6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

bloody man [heb] man of blood 2Sa 3:37 11:15-17 12:9 Ps 5:6 51:14

man of Belial De 13:13 1Sa 2:12 25:17 1Ki 21:10,13

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

returned Jud 9:24,56,57 1Ki 2:32,33 Ac 28:4,5 Re 16:6

the blood 2Sa 1:16 3:28,29 4:8-12 Ps 3:2 4:2

thou, etc. or, thee in thy evil

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

Abishai 2Sa 3:30 1Sa 26:6-8

dead dog 2Sa 3:8 9:8 1Sa 24:14

curse Ex 22:28 Ac 23:5 1Pe 2:17

let me go 1Sa 26:6-11 Job 31:30,31 Jer 40:13-16

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

What have 2Sa 3:39 19:22 1Ki 2:5 Mt 16:23 1Ki 22:21-23 2Ki 18:25 La 3:38,39 Joh 18:11

Who shall Job 9:12 Ec 8:4 Da 4:35 Ro 9:20

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

Behold 2Sa 12:11,12

came forth 2Sa 7:2 Ge 15:4

seeketh 2Sa 17:1-4 2Ki 19:37 2Ch 32:21 Mt 10:21

the Lord Isa 10:5-7 Eze 14:9 20:25

12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

the Lord Ge 29:32,33 Ex 2:24,25 3:7,8 1Sa 1:11 Ps 25:18

affliction. or, tears. [heb] eye
requite De 23:5 Isa 27:7 Mt 5:11,12 Ro 8:28 2Co 4:17 2Th 1:7 Heb 12:10 1Pe 4:12-19

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

cursed 2Sa 16:5,6

cast dust [heb] dusted him with dust Ac 23:23

It was an ancient custom, in those warm and arid countries, to lay the dust before a person of distinction, by sprinkling the ground with water. Dr. Pococke and the consul were treated with this respect when they entered Cairo. The same custom is alluded to in the well-known fable of Phaedrus, in which a slave is represented going before Augustus and officiously lay the dust. To throw dust in the air while a person was passing was therefore an act of great disrespect; to do so before a sovereign prince, an indecent outrage. But it is probable that Shimei meant more than disrespect and outrage to his afflicted king. Sir John Chardin informs us, that in the East, in general, those who demand justice against a criminal throw dust upon him, signifying that he ought to be put in the grave: and hence the common imprecation among the Turks and Persians, `Be covered with earth,' or `Earth be upon thy head.'

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

there 2Sa 16:5

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

Absalom 2Sa 15:37

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

God save the king. [heb] let the king live. 1Sa 10:24 1Ki 1:25,34 2Ki 11:12 Da 2:4 5:10 6:6,21 Mt 21:9

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

Is this thy De 32:6

why wentest 2Sa 15:32-37 19:25 Pr 17:17 18:24

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

2Sa 5:1-3 1Sa 16:13

19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

should I not serve 2Sa 15:34 1Sa 28:2 29:8 Ps 55:21 Ga 2:13

20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

Give counsel Ex 1:10 Ps 2:2 37:12,13 Pr 21:30 Isa 8:10 29:15 Mt 27:1 Ac 4:23-28

21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

Go in Ge 6:4 38:16

unto thy 2Sa 12:11 15:16 20:3 Ge 35:22 Le 18:8 20:11 1Ki 2:17,22 1Co 5:1

abhorred Ge 34:30 1Sa 13:4

thy father Ge 49:3,4

then shall 1Sa 27:12

the hands 2Sa 2:7 Zec 8:13

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

the top 2Sa 11:2

went in 2Sa 12:11,12 15:16 20:3 Nu 25:6 Isa 3:9 Jer 3:3 8:12 Eze 24:7 Eze 24:7 Php 3:19

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

as if Nu 27:21 1Sa 30:8 Ps 28:2 1Pe 4:11

oracle of God [heb] word of God Ps 19:7

so was The first counsel of this sagacious but wicked man to Absalom was more like an {oracle of Satan}, both for subtlety and atrocity. He advised the shameless measure just detailed, in order to establish Absalom, and to preclude the possibility of a reconciliation with David. The wives of a conquered king were always the property of the conqueror; and in possessing these he appeared to possess the right to the kingdom.

all the counsel 2Sa 17:14,23 Job 5:12 28:28 Jer 4:22 8:9 Mt 11:25 Lu 16:8 Ro 1:22 1Co 3:19,20 Jas 3:13-18

both 2Sa 15:12 Ec 10:1