In this chapter is an account of Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, getting his inheritance by misrepresentation of him, and by presents to David, 2 Sam. 16:1–4; and of Shimei’s cursing David as he passed along, which David bore patiently, and would not suffer others to avenge it on him, 2 Sam.

And when David was a little past the top of the hill Of the mount of Olives, the ascent of which he is said to go up by, and to come to the top of it, (2 Sam. 15:30, 2 Sam.

And the king said unto Ziba, what meanest thou by these? &c.] Are they to be said, or are they presents? and Ziba said, the asses be for the king’s household to ride on; for himself, his wives, and children, his courtiers, and the principal officers of his house; it being usual in those times and…

And the king said, and where is thy master’s son? &c.] The son of Saul, who was Ziba’s master, meaning Mephibosheth: and Ziba said unto the king, behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; as there was reason for it, since he was lame of both his feet, , though he could have rode upon an ass, and followed…

Then said the king to Ziba, behold, thine are all that pertaineth to Mephibosheth Being forfeited to the king by an overt act of treason as they had been before by the rebellion of Ishbosheth, but had been graciously restored to Mephibosheth; and had it been true what Ziba suggested, it would have…

And when King David came to Bahurim The Targum is, Alemath, perhaps the same that is said to be a city of the Levites, given unto them out of the tribe of Benjamin, for the man next described, who was of this place, was a Benjaminite, ; (See Gill on 2 Sam.

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David Not that he was within the reach of them, or could hurt them, by casting them at them; but this he did to show his contempt of them, and to intimate that they deserved to be stoned, and especially David, at whose adultery he might…

And thus said Shimei, when he cursed, come out, come out Or rather, “go out, go out” [[18]]; that is, out of the nation, where he deserved not to live, as he judged, and out of the kingdom, which he had usurped, as he supposed; and the repeating the words not only denotes his vehement desire to…

The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul Which he would suggest was shed by David, or, however, that he was the cause of its being shed; as if he had stirred up the Philistines to that battle in which Saul and his sons were slain, and had an hand secretly in the deaths of…

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king A sister’s son of his, and a general in the army, who could not bear to hear the king abused in this manner: why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? be suffered to do it with impunity; a “dog” he calls him, because of his vileness and…

And the king said, what have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? &c.] It seems as if Joab, the brother of Abishai, joined with him in this request to have leave to take off the head of Shimei; and though David had to do with them as his relations, his sister’s sons, and as they were generals in…

And David said to Abishai, and all his servants In order to make them easy, and reconcile them to this usage of him: behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life; meaning Absalom: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? who was not only of the same tribe that Saul was, but of…

It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction Through the rebellion of his son, and now aggravated by the cursing of Shimei; that is, with an eye of pity and commiseration, and deliver him out of it: or “look upon my eye” [[22]]; for there is a various reading; the tear of mine eye, as the…

And as David and his men went by the way In the high road that led to Bahurim, taking no notice of the cursing of Shimei, which made him bolder and more impudent; here is a large pause in the Hebrew text, in the midst of this verse: Shimei went along on the hill side over against him; as David and…

And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary With their journey, and through grief and trouble at what they met with: and refreshed themselves there: that is, at Bahurim, with food and rest; which revived their spirits, and put as it were new life and soul into them, as the word…

And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem At the same time that David and his people came to Bahurim; which, as Josephus [[24]] says, was a place near to Jerusalem; and, according to Bunting [[0]], was little more than a mile from it; though elsewhere [[1]] he makes it…

And it came to pass that when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom Who came into Jerusalem at the same time that Absalom did, and who, no doubt, took the first opportunity to make his court to him, ; that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king; or “may…

And Absalom said to Hushai, is this thy kindness to thy friend? &c.] Meaning to David; though he would not mention his name, nor his title, nor even the relation of a father he stood in to him, only speaks of him as Hushai’s friend: Hushai had professed great friendship to David, and David had been…

And Hushai said to Absalom In answer to his questions: nay, but whom the Lord, and his people, and all the men of Israel choose: here again he speaks very ambiguously; for this circumlocution, or descriptive character of the king of Israel, better agrees with David, whom he might bear in mind, than…

And again, whom should I serve? &c.] Or “secondly” [[4]], a second reason is here given for serving Absalom: the first was the choice of God and the people, the second follows: 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…

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel Having two such able counsellors as he and Hushai, he directs his speech to Ahithophel, as being his first and chief counsellor: give counsel among you what we shall do; he orders them to form a counsel, consult among themselves what was proper to be now done at…

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom Either immediately of himself, without consulting with others; or after a consultation had been held between them, he as the president of it, and their mouth, gave the following advice; though the former seems most correct: go in unto thy father’s concubines, which…

So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house On the top of his father’s palace; this, as houses in Jerusalem and Judea were, was built flat, ; and it was on the very spot from whence David had a sight of Bathsheba, and conceived an impure lust after her.

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he had counselled in those days Both in the days of David, and in the days of Absalom, before and since the rebellion: was as if a man had inquired of the oracle of God; such an opinion was entertained of it, so well satisfied were they with it, and as confident…