2 Samuel16
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 When had a the , the of him, with a of , bearing , a bunches of , a of , and a of .
2 And the to , have you brought ? , The are for the to , the and for the to , and the for those who in the to .
3 And the , And is your ? to the , , he in , he , the of will give me the of my .
4 Then the to , , belonged to is now yours. And , I pay ; let me ever in your , my the .
5 When , there a of the of the of , whose was , the of , and as he he continually.
6 And he at and at the of , and the and the were on his and on his .
7 And as he , Get , get , you of , you !
8 The Lord has you the of the of , in whose you have , and the Lord has the into the of your . , your is on you, you are a of .
9 Then the of to the , should this my the ? Let me go and his .
10 But the , have I to do with you, you of ? If he is because the Lord has to him, , then shall , have you ?
11 And to and to his , , my own my ; how may this ! Leave him , and let him , the Lord has him to.
12 It may that the Lord will on the done to , and that the Lord will me with for his .
13 So and his on the , while on the him and as he and him and .
14 And the , and the were with him, at the Jordan. And he himself.
15 Now and the , the of , to , and with him.
16 And when the , , to , to , Long the ! Long the !
17 And to , Is your to your ? did you with your ?
18 And to , , the Lord and and the of have , his I will be, and with him I will .
19 And , should I ? Should it be his ? I have your , I will you.
20 Then to , your . shall we ?
21 to , Go to your , he has to the , and will you have made yourself a to your , and the of are with you will be .
22 So they a for the . And to his in the of .
23 Now in those the was as the of ; was the of esteemed, by and by .
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2 Samuel 16Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 16. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Ziba's falsehood. (1–4). David cursed by Shimei. (5–14). Ahithophel's counsel. (15–23).
vv1-4
Ziba belied Mephibosheth. Great men ought always to be jealous of flatterers, and to be careful that they hear both sides.
vv5-14
David bore Shimei's curses much better than Ziba's flatteries; by these he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by those to pass a right judgment on himself: the world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Once and again David spared Saul's life, while Saul sought his. But innocence is no defence against malice and falsehood; nor are we to think it strange, if we are charged with that which we have been most careful to keep ourselves from. It is well for us, that men are not to be our judges, but He whose judgment is according to truth. See how patient David was under this abuse. Let this remind us of Christ, who prayed for those who reviled and crucified him. A humble spirit will turn reproaches into reproofs, and get good from them, instead of being provoked by them. David the hand of God in it, and comforts himself that God would bring good out of his affliction. We may depend upon God to repay, not only our services, but our sufferings.
vv15-23
The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. After all, honesty is the best policy, and will be found so in the long run. Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom; to render himself so hateful to his father, that he would never be reconciled to him; this cursed policy was of the devil. How desperately wicked is the human heart!
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
עָבַר: to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
מְעַט: a little or few (often adverbial or compar.)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
נַעַר: (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
מְפִיבֹשֶׁת: Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites
קִרְאָה: an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
צֶמֶד: hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough)
חֲמוֹר: a male ass (from its dun red)
Cross References
2 Samuel 16Directly fulfills Nathan's prophecy that David's neighbor would lie with his wives in the daylight.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Fulfills the specific judgment that this would be done openly 'before all Israel, and before the sun.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contextualizes Ahithophel's legendary counsel which David actively prayed God would turn into foolishness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes Ziba's status as servant and the original arrangement with Mephibosheth's land.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Mephibosheth's later defense and explanation, exposing Ziba's slanderous report here as a lie.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic law explicitly prohibiting the cursing of a ruler or leader of the people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abishai's characteristic, hot-tempered eagerness to strike down the king's adversary immediately.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illuminates David's folly in judging Mephibosheth's case before hearing the other side.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David recalls Shimei's grievous curse on his deathbed, directing Solomon how to handle him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abishai repeats his demand to execute Shimei for cursing the Lord's anointed upon David's return.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David's ongoing struggle to manage the violent, impetuous sons of Zeruiah.
Supported by JFB
Hushai's initial meeting with David, setting up his role as David's plant in Absalom's court.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the provisions of food and drink brought to sustain David's faint followers in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel of a son defiling his father's bed, recalling Reuben's sin and loss of birthright.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the ten concubines David left behind to keep the house, whom Absalom defiled.
Supported by JFB