4. “Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth,” said the king, “is now yours.”Ziba said, “How can I ever thank you? I’ll be forever in your debt, my master and king; may you always look on me with such kindness!”
9. Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “This mangy dog can’t insult my master the king this way—let me go over and cut off his head!”
10. But the king said, “Why are you sons of Zeruiah always interfering and getting in the way? If he’s cursing, it’s because God told him, ‘Curse David.’ So who dares raise questions?”
13. David and his men went on down the road, while Shimei followed along on the ridge of the hill alongside, cursing, throwing stones down on them, and kicking up dirt.
14. By the time they reached the Jordan River, David and all the men of the company were exhausted. There they rested and were revived.
15. By this time Absalom and all his men were in Jerusalem.And Ahithophel was with them.
16. Soon after, Hushai the Arkite, David’s friend, came and greeted Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17. Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this the way you show devotion to your good friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend David?”
20. Then Absalom spoke to Ahithophel, “Are you ready to give counsel? What do we do next?”
23. The counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was treated as if God himself had spoken. That was the reputation of Ahithophel’s counsel to David; it was the same with Absalom.