2 Samuel 16 Bible Study - In 5 Minutes

2 Samuel 16 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Saul died in approximately 1055 B.C., after reigning over Israel for 40 years.

• David became king over Judah the same year. He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.

CHARACTERS:

• David – The second king over all Israel and Judah.

• Absalom – David’s son by Maacah (2 Sam 3:3). He betrayed David to steal the throne.

• Ahithophel – One of David’s counselors. The Bible says, “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom” (16:23).

• Hushai – A friend of David’s who remained in Jerusalem spy on Absalom and mislead him.

• Mephibosheth – The son of Jonathan. He was lame in both feet. David had shown him kindness for Jonathan’s sake and invited him to eat at the king’s residence.

• Ziba – The servant of Mephibosheth who was charged with cultivating his land.

• Shemei – A relative of Saul who cursed David as he fled Jerusalem.

WHERE:

• David and his household fled Jerusalem and went east over the Mount of Olives. They stopped at the Jordan River to await direction from David’s informants in Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• DAVID’S HOUSEHOLD FLEES JERUSALEM, CONTINUED (16:1-4):

  • When David had passed over the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with donkeys laden with provisions.

  • David asked Ziba about Mephibosheth, and Ziba told him Mephibosheth had elected to stay behind in hopes that the throne that had once belonged to his grandfather would be returned to him.

  • David believed Ziba and gave him all the lands that belonged to Mephibosheth (but there is more to this story that we will read about later).

• SHIMEI CURSES DAVID (16:5-14):

  • As David’s company moved on, they encountered a relative of Saul’s named Shimei.

  • Shemei mocked David and threw stones at the people in his party.

  • He cursed David, saying that he was a man of blood who deserved to be run out of Jerusalem for what he did to the house of Saul.

  • Abishai, the brother of Joab, asked David’s permission to kill Shemei, but David refused to retaliate, because he suspected the Lord had told Shemei to curse him.

  • David’s company continued down the road until they reached the Jordan River. Shemei followed them for a time, continuing his cursing and rock throwing.

• ABSALOM SETS HIMSELF UP AS KING IN JERUSALEM (16:15-23):

  • Absalom and all his allies entered Jerusalem.

  • Hushai, David’s friend and spy, met with Absalom and convinced him was on his side.

  • Absalom asked for Ahithophel’s advice as to what he should do next to establish himself as king.

  • Ahithophel told him to make his claim to the throne clear and cut off any hope of reconciliation with David by sleeping with his father’s concubines “in the sight of all Israel.”

  • Absalom considered this good advice. His servants pitched a tent for him on the roof and Absalom had relations with David’s concubines.

APPLICATION:

• David knew Ahithophel was a wise man, which is why he sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to thwart his counsel.

• Absalom had a lot of faults, but he did get one thing right, he knew the value of having wise advisors.

• The Bible speaks very positively of surrounding oneself with good counselors.

• “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (Pro 15:22).

• “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Pro 12:15).