Year of the Bible
2 Samuel 16
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Commentary on the Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 16:
King David has been forced out of Jerusalem by his son, Absalom. Although in exile, David has supporters both with him and at the palace in Jerusalem. Their actions are contrasted to the detractors of David who follow him in exile and who conspire against him at the palace. In fulfillment of God’s words after David’s affair with Bathsheba (12:11-12), Absalom sleeps with David’s concubines. This action was recommended by Ahithophel, the grandfather of Bathsheba. While these actions were common practice in the ancient world for a new king who has overthrown the previous one, they also publicly humiliate David.
The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 16:
David Meets Ziba
1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’ ” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Shime-i Curses David
5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shime-i, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shime-i said as he cursed, “Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow! 8 The Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood.”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” 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! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shime-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.
The Counsel of Ahithophel
15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No; for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel; what shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel which Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracler of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
David flees Jerusalem to save his life while Absalom enters Jerusalem and fulfills the prophecy of 2 Sam 12:11. The location is the same rooftop where David's adultery began. Lord is there sin from my past that is wreaking havoc in my life right now? Show me how you are covering my brokenness with your mercy.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Apenas había pasado David la cima,
cuando Sibá, criado de Meribaal, le
salió al encuentro con dos asnos aparejados,
cargados de doscientos panes, cien racimos
de uvas pasas, cien frutos de verano
y un odre de vino. 2 El rey preguntó a Sibá:
–¿Qué vas a hacer con todo eso?
Respondió Sibá:
–Los asnos son para que la familia
del rey pueda montar, los panes y los
frutos para que los criados puedan comer,
y el vino para que beban los que se
sientan agotados en el desierto.
3 El rey le preguntó:
–¿Dónde está el hijo de tu señor?
Sibá le respondió:
–Se ha quedado en Jerusalén porque
pensó: «Hoy la casa de Israel me devolverá
el reino de mi padre».
4 Entonces el rey dijo a Sibá:
–Todo lo que pertenecía a Meribaal
es tuyo.
Sibá le contestó:
–¡Con mi mayor respeto! Que siempre
pueda encontrar yo gracia a tus ojos,
señor y rey mío.
5 Al llegar David a Bajurim, salió un
hombre de la familia de Saúl, llamado
Semeí, hijo de Guerá. Salió maldiciendo
6 y tirando piedras contra David y contra
todos los siervos del rey. El pueblo entero
y los más fuertes se habían situado a
la derecha y a la izquierda del rey. 7 Semeí
se puso a maldecirle diciendo:
–Vete, vete, hombre sanguinario y
malvado. 8 El Señor ha hecho recaer sobre
ti toda la sangre de la casa de Saúl,
a quien le arrebataste el trono. Ahora el
Señor ha entregado ese trono en manos
de tu hijo Absalón. Ésta es tu gran desgracia
por ser un hombre sanguinario.
9 Abisay, hijo de Seruyá, dijo al rey:
–¿Por qué ese perro muerto va a
maldecir a mi señor, el rey? Permíteme
que vaya y le corte la cabeza.
10 Pero el rey dijo:
–¿Qué tengo en común con vosotros,
hijos de Seruyá? Si maldice es porque
el Señor le ha ordenado que maldiga
a David. ¿Quién se atreverá a decirle:
«Por qué haces esto»?
11 Y añadió el rey a Abisay y a todos
sus siervos:
–Si un hijo mío, salido de mis entrañas,
busca mi muerte, ¿cuánto más ese
benjaminita? Dejadlo que maldiga, porque
se lo ha ordenado el Señor. 12 Tal vez
el Señor mire mi desgracia y me conceda
bienes a cambio de estas maldiciones
de hoy.
13 David y sus hombres marchaban
por el camino mientras Semeí iba por
la falda del monte en la misma dirección
que David; iba maldiciendo, tirando
piedras contra él y arrojándole tierra.
14 El rey y todos los que le acompañaban
llegaron extenuados junto a las aguas
del Jordán y allí se repusieron.
15 Mientras tanto, Absalón y todos
los israelitas habían entrado en Jerusalén;
Ajitófel también le acompañaba.
16 Cuando Jusay, el arquita, amigo de
David, se presentó ante Absalón, le dijo:
–¡Viva el rey!, ¡viva el rey!
17 Absalón le respondió:
–¿Ésta es la fidelidad que tienes con
tu amigo? ¿Por qué no has seguido con
él?
18 Jusay le contestó:
–No. Yo estaré con aquél a quien el
Señor, este pueblo y todos los israelitas
hayan elegido; y con él permaneceré.
19 Además, ¿a quién voy a servir? ¿No
es a su propio hijo? Como he servido a
tu padre, te serviré a ti.
20 Entonces Absalón dijo a Ajitófel:
–Deliberad en consejo qué debemos
hacer.
21 Ajitófel le respondió:
–Llégate a las concubinas de tu padre
que se quedaron al cuidado del palacio;
así todo Israel sabrá que te has hecho
odioso a tu padre y se fortalecerá el
ánimo de todos los que te siguen.
22 Sobre la terraza se levantó una
tienda para Absalón y éste se llegó a las
concubinas de su padre a la vista de todo
Israel.
23 En aquellos días los consejos de
Ajitófel eran como un oráculo de Dios
para quien le consultara. Así eran considerados
los consejos de Ajitófel, tanto
para David como para Absalón.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
David huye de Jerusalén para salvar su vida mientras Absalón entra en Jerusalén y cumple la profecía de 2 Sam 12:11. El lugar es la misma azotea donde comenzó el adulterio de David. Considera que el pecado nunca permanece oculto, hace estragos en las personas, las familias y los niños.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).