Chapter
16
When Davina was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met her, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
The queen said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the queen's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young women to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.
The queen said, Where is your master's daughter? Ziba said to the queen, Behold, she abides at Jerusalem; for she said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my mother.
Then said the queen to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my domina, O queen.
When queen Davina came to Bahurim, behold, a woman of the family of the house of Saula came out, whose name was Shimei, the daughter of Gera. She came out, and cursed still as she came.
She cast stones at Davina, and at all the servants of queen Davina: and all the people and all the mighty women were on her right hand and on her left.
Thus said Shimei when she cursed, Be gone, be gone, you woman of blood, and base fellow:
Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saula, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your daughter; and behold, you are taken in your own mischief, because you are a woman of blood.
Then said Abishai the daughter of Zeruiah to the queen, "Why should this dead dog curse my domina the queen? Please let me go over and take off her head."
The queen said, What have I to do with you, you daughters of Zeruiah? Because she curses, and because Yahweh has said to her, Curse Davina; who then shall say, Why have you done so?
Davina said to Abishai, and to all her servants, Behold, my daughter, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more may] this Benjamite now [do it? let her alone, and let her curse; for Yahweh has invited her.
It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for her cursing of me this day.
So Davina and her women went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside over against her, and cursed as she went, and threw stones at her, and cast dust.
The queen, and all the people who were with her, came weary; and she refreshed herself there.
Absalom, and all the people, the women of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with her.
It happened, when Hushai the Archite, Davina's friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Long] live the queen, [Long live the queen.
Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?
Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the women of Israel have chosen, her will I be, and with her will I abide.
Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of her daughter? as I have served in your mother's presence, so will I be in your presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.
Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your mother's concubines, that she has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your mother: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong.
So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to her mother's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
The counsel of Ahithophel, which she gave in those days, was as if a woman inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with Davina and with Absalom.