2 SAMUEL LESSON 17
We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 16:1 "And when David was a
little past the top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of
Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them
two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and
an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine."
We remember, in a previous lesson, that David took the land of
Ziba, and gave it to Mephibosheth. Ziba had been a servant of Saul.
This food would raise the spirits of those with David. It is not
explained why he brought this.
II Samuel 16:2 "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."
David had no idea why Ziba would do this, and he asks him. These
things are much needed by David's people, but I am not sure the
purpose of Ziba is to bless David.
II Samuel 16:3 "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."
David is inquiring of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. We know the
answer Ziba gives is not true. Absalom wanted the throne for himself,
not for the family of Saul. He was a cripple, and it was difficult for
him to leave in a hurry. This would have been a more correct answer.
II Samuel 16:4 "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."
It is difficult to believe, that David would not question the
motives of this Ziba. David tells Ziba, that he, now, owns all of
Mephibosheth's wealth. He has taken it back from Mephibosheth, and
given it to Ziba.
II Samuel 16:5 "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."
This man was so dedicated to the house of Saul, that he seemed
not to care that he might lose his life. He cursed David.
II Samuel 16:6 "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."
It was as if he was trying to provoke them into killing him. It
seemed not to matter, that he was one man against 600.
II Samuel 16:7 "And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out,
come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:"
David certainly was a bloody man in battle. Shimei, possibly, was
still angry with him for the death of Saul's sons.
II Samuel 16:8 "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."
The rise of Absalom against David has caused this man to do such
a foolish thing. He has been convinced, probably by Absalom that David
will fall as king, and Absalom will reign as king in his stead. He is
cursing David, because of the blood he has shed in battle. David,
however, had nothing to do with the death of Saul.
II Samuel 16:9 "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."
This was something terrible for David and his people to hear.
Abishai did not like this man insulting David in this manner. He
offers to go over and kill him. He was running along a ledge,
screaming down at David, and throwing rocks at him.
II Samuel 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?"
This is David's sister's son, who wants to go and kill him. David
speaks to him harshly here, thinking that, perhaps, this message is
from God and not from Shimei. He is, in a sense, saying, "shall I
fight against God"?
II Samuel 16:11 "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."
David is suddenly believing that this, too, is a punishment from
God. He is disturbed, because his own son has turned against him to
overthrow his kingdom. His son had done such a complete job of
breaking David's heart, it really did not matter what this man said.
David believes the LORD has sent this man to curse him.
II Samuel 16:12 "It may be that the LORD will look on mine
affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing
this day."
David thinks this, too, is for the wrong he had done in the past.
"Requite" means to turn back. If David does not kill this man for the
terrible things he says, perhaps, the LORD will look kindly on David.
II Samuel 16:13 "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."
This is just explaining, again, that the man continued the
insults, and the rock throwing from a ledge above and to the side of
where David was walking.
II Samuel 16:14 "And the king, and all the people that [were]
with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there."
This just means that David, and the people with him, stopped to
rest from their journey for a while.
II Samuel 16:15 "And Absalom, and all the people the men of
Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him."
The scene has changed to Jerusalem, here. We remember, that
Ahithophel is Bath-sheba's grandfather, who is with Absalom. He is
counselling him.
II Samuel 16:16 "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."
Hushai was pretending to be the subject of Absalom. Absalom was
aware that he was David's friend. Hushai could be blessing David,
because he did not specify who the king was.
II Samuel 16:17 "And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy
kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?"
Absalom still does not trust Hushai, and asks him why he did not
go with David.
II Samuel 16:18 "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."
Notice, again, that Hushai still does not lie. He will go with
the LORD's anointed. Hushai believes that to be David. He did not say
he was loyal to Absalom. Absalom was so sure he would be the chosen of
the people and the LORD, that he thought that was what he said.
II Samuel 16:19 "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."
He still does not pledge his loyalty to Absalom. He just says, he
will serve in his presence.
II Samuel 16:20 "Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel
among you what we shall do."
Absalom inquires what he should do from Ahithophel, because he is
thought to be speaking as an oracle of God. David had prayed that he
would give bad advice, though.
II Samuel 16:21 "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."
It was the custom of the land for the king to take the harem of
the king, who is moved out. This would not be thought of as incest in
that case. This is an abomination. These concubines belong to his
father. He is not king yet. The advice that Ahithophel had given, and
he had taken, will get him into terrible trouble with God, as well as
with David. He thinks the people will proclaim him king, when he does
this terrible thing.
II Samuel 16:22 "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."
This was more of a military move, than it was a desire for these
women. The entire town would be witness to the fact, that he went in
to the concubines, belonging to David.
II Samuel 16:23 "And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he
counselled 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."
Ahithophel had been highly thought of as a counselor for David,
and then for Absalom. He has, now, done a terrible thing, with this
advice he gave Absalom.
2 Samuel 17 Questions
1. Who met David just a little past the top of the hill?
2. What did he have for David?
3. What do we remember about Ziba from before?
4. What were the asses for?
5. Who did David ask Ziba about?
6. What false statement did Ziba make about Mephibosheth?
7. What does David do for Ziba?
8 Who came out, and began to curse David at Bahurim?
9. What did he do, besides curse?
10. What did he call David in verse 7?
11. What was the man accusing David of?
12. What did Abishai offer to do?
13. What is David's reply to his offer?
14. Why did David let him continue cursing him?
15. Why did it not matter to David about the cursing this man was
doing?
16. What does "requite" mean?
17. How did the man stay out of reach?
18. The scene changes, in verse 15, to where?
19. Who is Ahithophel?
20. What did Hushai say, when he came to Absalom?
21. What was Hushai pretending to be?
22. Why does Absalom not trust Hushai?
23. What did Absalom ask of Ahithophel?
24. What did he tell Absalom to do?
25. Why did he tell him to do this?
26. Where did this take place, so all could see him go in to them?
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