The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Samuel 16

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Samuel chapter 16 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And when David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them…” — the complete text of all 23 verses is below, free to read online.

1And when David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2And the king said unto Ziba: 'What meanest thou by these?' And Ziba said: 'The asses are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.'

3And 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 will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'

4Then said the king to Ziba: 'Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth.' And Ziba said: 'I prostrate myself; let me find favour in thy sight, my lord, O king.'

5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and kept on cursing as he came.

6And 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.

7And thus said Shimei when he cursed: 'Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow;

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

9Then 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.'

10And the king said: 'What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because HaShem hath said unto him: Curse David; who then shall say: Wherefore hast thou done so?'

11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants: 'Behold, my son, who came forth of my body, seeketh my life; how much more this Benjamite now? let him alone, and let him curse; for HaShem hath bidden him.

12It may be that HaShem will look on mine eye, and that HaShem will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.'

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

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

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

16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom: 'Long live the king, long live the king.'

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

18And Hushai said unto Absalom: 'Nay; but whom HaShem, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19And 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.'

20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel: 'Give your counsel what we shall do.'

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

22So 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.--

23Now the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man inquired of the word of G-d; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

23 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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