1. David passed a short way over the top of the Mount of Olives. There Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met David. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. They carried 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of raisins and 100 cakes of figs. They also carried leather bags full of wine.
2. The king asked Ziba, “What are these things for?”Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and cakes of figs are for the servants to eat. And the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weak in the desert.”
3. The king asked, “Where is Mephibosheth?”Ziba answered him, “Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem. He thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will give my father’s kingdom back to me!’”
4. Then the king said to Ziba, “All right. Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth, I now give to you!”Ziba said, “I bow to you. I hope I will always be able to please you.”
5. As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out from there. He was from Saul’s family group. His name was Shimei son of Gera. Shimei came out, cursing David as he came.
6. He began throwing stones at David and his officers. But the people and soldiers gathered all around David.
7. Shimei cursed David. He said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you troublemaker.
8. The Lord is punishing you for the people in Saul’s family you killed! You took Saul’s place as king! But now the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom! Now you are ruined because you are a murderer!”