Bearing Insults with Trust

Chapter 16 shows David at his lowest point and also some of his best responses. Ziba met him beyond the top of the Mount of Olives with two saddled donkeys loaded with bread, raisins, summer fruits, and wine. When asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba claimed that he had stayed behind hoping Israel would restore his grandfather's kingdom to him. David, weary and hurried, transferred all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba without investigation.

At Bahurim, Shimei of Saul's family followed along the hillside, cursing David as a man of blood and throwing stones and dust. He claimed the Lord was repaying David for the blood of Saul's house. Abishai offered to kill him. David's answer was humble: his own son sought his life, so why be surprised at a Benjamite? Perhaps the Lord had told him to curse. Let him alone. David hoped that the Lord would look on the wrong done to him and repay him good for the cursing.

Meanwhile Absalom entered Jerusalem. Hushai cleverly greeted him, saying he would serve the one whom Yahweh and the people had chosen, wording that Absalom took as loyalty. Absalom then turned to Ahithophel, whose counsel in those days was treated like an inquiry of the word of God. Ahithophel's advice was meant to make Absalom odious to his father beyond any hope of peace. The counselor's wisdom had become a tool of wickedness.