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II Samuel 16 David Cursed

and Humiliated2

Somebody still cares for David

• (2 Sam 16:1 NKJV) When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

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Two Views of ZibaA thoughtful man

• He was being kind to David at a time when many had turned their back on him.

A crafty man

“This crafty man, anticipating the certain failure of Absalom’s conspiracy, took steps to prepare for his future advancement on the restoration of the king. JFB

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David says, Why?• (2 Sam 16:2 NKJV) And the king said to Ziba,

"What do you mean to do with these?" So Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink."

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What about Mephibosheth• (2 Sam 16:3 NKJV) Then the king said, "And

where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.'"

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Such confussion:• Mephibosheth is

now hoping to have the kingdom restored to Saul’s family.

• Absalom is trying to take the kingdom from his own father.

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Did David have a right to do this?

• (2 Sam 16:4 NKJV) So the king said to Ziba, "Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!"

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Adam Clarke says this is wrong!

• This conduct of David was very rash; he spoiled an honorable man to reward a villain, not giving himself time to look into the circumstances of the case. But David was in heavy afflictions, and these sometimes make even a wise man mad. Nothing should be done rashly; he who is in the habit of obeying the first impulse of his passions or feelings, will seldom do a right action, and never keep a clear conscience. -- Adam Clarke

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David Cursed by Shimei• (2 Sam 16:5 NKJV) Now when King David

came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.

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Is this from God?• David was guiltless of the crime of which

Shimei accused him; but his conscience reminded him of other flagrant iniquities; and he, therefore, regarded the cursing of this man as a chastisement from heaven. His answer to Abishai’s proposal evinced the spirit of deep and humble resignation - the spirit of a man who watched the course of Providence, and acknowledged Shimei as the instrument of God’s chastening hand. JFB

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Is this from God? Or from Saul?• (2 Sam 16:5 NKJV)

Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.

• He upbraided David as an ambitious usurper, and charged him, as one whose misdeeds had recoiled upon his own head, to surrender a throne to which he was not entitled. -JFB

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The dishonor continues• (2 Sam 16:6 NKJV) And he threw 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.

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David is insulted• (2 Sam 16:7 NKJV)

Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue!

• (2 Sam 16:7 NASB) And thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

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A Reprimand• (2 Sam 16:8 NKJV) "The LORD has brought

upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!"

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Abishai supports David• (2 Sam 16:9 NKJV) Then Abishai the son of

Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!"

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Who was Abishai?• He was a long time supporter. He was

supporting David when he was being chased by Saul. You must appreciate his loyalty.

• (1 Sam 26:6-9 NKJV) Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

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Who was Abishai?

• (1 Sam 26:7-9 NKJV) {7} So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.

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Abishai could have killed Saul

• (1 Sam 26:7-9 NKJV) {8} Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!" {9} And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"

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A puzzling Question• (2 Sam 16:10 NKJV) But the king said, "What

have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

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The NIV may help with the sense

• (2 Sam 16:10 NIV) But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'"

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2 Samuel 16:10 ComparedNKJV

• But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

NIV

• But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'"

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David Accept the Cursing as from God

• (2 Sam 16:11 NKJV) And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him.

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Keil-Delitzsch:• Although David had committed no murder

upon the house of Saul, and therefore Shimei's cursing was nothing but malicious blasphemy, he felt that it came upon him because of his sins, though not for the sin imputed to him. He therefore forbade their putting the blasphemer to death, and said Jehovah had commanded him to curse; regarding the cursing as the consequence of the wrath of God that was bringing him low

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In a sense, David is an example of this verse:

• (1 Pet 2:20 NASB) For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

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Again, the thoughts expressed by Peter

• (2 Sam 16:12 NKJV) "It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day."

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Anything to be insulting!• (2 Sam 16:13 NKJV) And as David and his

men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

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Break Time• (2 Sam 16:14 NKJV) Now the king and all the

people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

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Absalom Comes into Jerusalem

• (2 Sam 16:15 NKJV) Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.

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David is concerned about Ahithophel

• (2 Sam 15:31 NKJV) Then someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

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Working Behind Enemy Lines

• (2 Sam 16:16 NKJV) And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

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Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king —

• Hushai’s devotion to David was so well-known, that his presence in the camp of the conspirators excited great surprise. Professing, however, with great address, to consider it his duty to support the cause which the course of Providence and the national will had seemingly decreed should triumph, and urging his friendship for the father as a ground of confidence in his fidelity to the son, he persuaded Absalom of his sincerity, and was admitted among the councilors of the new king. JFB

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Absalom questions his loyalty

• (2 Sam 16:17-18 NKJV) So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" {18} And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

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Hushai pleads his case

• (2 Sam 16:19 NKJV) "Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

• -- Or should be say, A spies story?

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Absalom checks with Ahithophel

• (2 Sam 16:20 NKJV) Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give counsel as to what we should do."

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The women left behind• (2 Sam 16:21 NKJV) And Ahithophel said to

Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong."

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Why were these left?• (2 Sam 15:16 NKJV)

Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

• We asked about the wisdom of this in our last study. Now here is more of what happens to them.

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What Happened?• (2 Sam 16:22 NKJV) So they pitched a tent

for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

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A Literal Fulfillment!• (2 Sam 12:11-12 NKJV) "Thus says the LORD:

'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. {12} 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'"

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Ahithophel’s Advice fulfills God’s prophecy

• (2 Sam 16:23 NKJV) Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

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Another chapter closes, but

where are we?

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David is in trouble:

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David is in trouble:• He is a fugitive, having given up Jerusalem.

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David is in trouble:• He is a fugitive, having given up Jerusalem.• He is fleeing from his own son, there is no

possibility of an absolute victory.

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David is in trouble:• He is a fugitive, having given up Jerusalem.• He is fleeing from his own son, there is no

possibility of an absolute victory.• He left his concubines and they are being

violated.

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David is in trouble:• He is a fugitive, having given up Jerusalem.• He is fleeing from his own son, there is no

possibility of an absolute victory.• He left his concubines and they are being

violated.• He is being cursed and made fun of, and

unwilling to stop it.

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David is in trouble:• He is a fugitive, having given up Jerusalem.• He is fleeing from his own son, there is no

possibility of an absolute victory.• He left his concubines and they are being

violated.• He is being cursed and made fun of, and

unwilling to stop it.• He knows he is in trouble with God.

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His only hope is God!

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His only hope is God!• It’s true for all of us, but many of us feel we

can make many of the decisions that will affect our lives.

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His only hope is God!• It’s true for all of us, but many of us feel we

can make many of the decisions that will affect our lives.

• He pleads with God to “Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!“

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His only hope is God!• It’s true for all of us, but many of us feel we

can make many of the decisions that will affect our lives.

• He pleads with God to “Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!“

• He accepts anything that he thinks God is doing to him, even if it is insulting.

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His only hope is God!• It’s true for all of us, but many of us feel we

can make many of the decisions that will affect our lives.

• He pleads with God to “Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!“

• He accepts anything that he thinks God is doing to him, even if it is insulting.

• He will not strike back at God

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His only hope is God!• It’s true for all of us, but many of us feel we

can make many of the decisions that will affect our lives.

• He pleads with God to “Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!“

• He accepts anything that he thinks God is doing to him, even if it is insulting.

• He will not strike back at God• God will see him through, but he will pay.

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He was the man after God’s own heart.

• (1 Sam 13:14 NKJV) "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."

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It’s not all about

winning!55

It’s how you played the

game!56

God will decide the final score!

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