Chapter 16

As David is leaving, Ziba, the servant to Mephibosheth, brings David two donkeys and some food.  David asks where Mephibosheth - Jonathan's son that David sought out, gave all the property that belonged to Saul and Jonathan to, and fed daily in his own house - is at that time.  Ziba says Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem, believing that now, Israel will make Mephibosheth King, since he is the only surviving heir to King Saul.  Totally ungrateful.  David tells Ziba that all that had belonged to Mephibosheth is now his.  This would make a good post.  Like Mephibosheth, when God gives us uncountable blessings that we can never repay, we feel no obligation to the giver, but follow our own ambitions.  Is this also a type for Israel, being given the best God offers, then rejecting His law and His Son, and all that was given to Israel is now given to the Gentiles?

11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today." [2Sa 16:11-12 ESV]

The Benjamite was cursing David and his party continually, throwing rocks at them and dirt.  A continual stream of profanity directed at them from Shimei.  He calls David a man of blood.  At first it might seem like this is about the murder of Uriah, and maybe it partly is.  But the man doing the cursing, Shimei, is a relative of Saul's, through his father's house.  Maybe not a close relative, but of the same tribe and house.

When things start to go wrong, don't expect any breaks from those who didn't care for you in the first place.  But...be patient.  The blessing for taking what God has decreed with patience and without reacting out of pride may yet appear.

As this is happening, Absalom and Ahithophel enter Jerusalem.  Hushai presents himself.  Ahithophel counsels Absalom to "go in" to the concubines David left to take care of the house.  In the sight of all Israel.  Everyone was aware that Absalom was "in" with David's women.  Just as God's curse had said in Chapter 12.  At this time in Israel, Ahithophel's counsel was considered to be from God, to both Absalom and David.