And when Davidwas a littlepastthe top of the hill , behold, Zibathe servantof Mephiboshethmethim, with a coupleof assessaddled, and uponthem two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundredbunches of raisins, and a hundredof summer fruits, and a bottleof wine. And the kingsaiduntoZiba, Whatmeanest thou by these? And Zibasaid, The asses be for the king's householdto ride on; and the breadand summer fruitfor the young mento eat; and the wine, that such as be faintin the wildernessmay drink. And the kingsaid, And where is thy master's son? And Zibasaiduntothe king, Behold, he abidethat Jerusalem: forhe said, Todayshall the houseof Israelrestoreme the kingdomof my father. Then saidthe kingto Ziba, Behold, thine are allthat pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Zibasaid, I humbly beseechthee that I may findgracein thy sight, my lord, O king. And when kingDavidcametoBahurim, behold, thencecame outa manof the familyof the houseof Saul, whose name was Shimei, the sonof Gera: he came forth, and cursedstill as he came. And he caststonesat David, and at allthe servantsof kingDavid: and allthe peopleand allthe mighty men were on his right handand on his left. And thussaidShimeiwhen he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloodyman, and thou manof Belial: The LORDhath returneduponthee allthe bloodof the houseof Saul, in whosesteadthou hast reigned; and the LORDhath deliveredthe kingdominto the handof Absalomthy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, becausethou art a bloodyman. Then saidAbishaithe sonof Zeruiahuntothe king, Whyshould thisdeaddogcursemy lordthe king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take offhis head. And the kingsaid, Whathave I to do with you, ye sonsof Zeruiah? solet him curse, becausethe LORDhath saidunto him, CurseDavid. Whoshall then say, Whereforehast thou doneso? And DavidsaidtoAbishai, and toallhis servants, Behold, my son, whichcame forthof my bowels, seekethmy life: how much morenow may this Benjamite do it ? let him alone, and let him curse; forthe LORDhath biddenhim. It may bethat the LORDwill lookon mine affliction, and that the LORDwill requiteme goodforhis cursingthisday. And as Davidand his menwentby the way, Shimeiwent alongon the hill's sideover againsthim, and cursedas he went, and threwstonesathim, and castdust. And the king, and allthe peoplethat were withhim, cameweary, and refreshed themselvesthere. And Absalom, and allthe peoplethe menof Israel, cameto Jerusalem, and Ahithophelwithhim. And it came to pass, whenHushaithe Archite, David's friend, was comeuntoAbsalom, that HushaisaiduntoAbsalom, God savethe king, God savethe king. And AbsalomsaidtoHushai, Is thisthy kindnessto thy friend? whywentestthou notwiththy friend? And HushaisaiduntoAbsalom, Nay; butwhomthe LORD, and thispeople, and allthe menof Israel, choose, his will I be, and withhim will I abide. And again, whomshould Iserve? should I not serve in the presenceof his son? asI have servedin thy father's presence, sowill I bein thy presence. Then saidAbsalomtoAhithophel, Givecounselamong you whatwe shall do. And AhithophelsaiduntoAbsalom, Goin untothy father's concubines, whichhe hath leftto keepthe house; and allIsraelshall hearthatthou art abhorredofthy father: then shall the handsof allthat are withthee be strong. So they spreadAbsaloma tentuponthe topof the house; and Absalomwentin untohis father's concubinesin the sightof allIsrael. And the counselof Ahithophel, whichhe counseledin thosedays, was asif a manhad inquiredat the oracleof God: so was allthe counselof Ahithophelbothwith Davidandwith Absalom.