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Ziba comes to David with some of Mephibosheth’s wealth and brought it to David on the pretext of pledging loyalty to David. Ziba tells David that Mephibosheth has purposefully refused to flee with David and stay behind to possibly gain the throne for himself.
Passages: 2nd Samuel 16; Luke 22; Psa. 41 and 55
By Ziba’s own testimony, he was a thief and should be punished as such, but David did not do so. Instead, David gives Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba, presuming that Ziba is expressing loyalty to him and presumes that Mephibosheth has betrayed him. Ziba’s provisions gave David some comfort.
Judas, one of Yeshua’s 12 apostles who ate at His table betrayed him with a kiss and gained property and provisions as a reward for betrayal just as Ziba’s betrayal of Mephibosheth was rewarded.
The next betrayer David meets is Shimei, who curses (qalal, Strong’s lexicon No. H7043) David with false accusations and throwing stones at him. David’s response is interesting. David tells his servants that Shimei’s curse may be God’s will and he will not silence Shimei.
Even the good guys in this story have a parallel. David’s nephew Abishai wants to cut off Shimei’s head in response to the Shimei’s false accusations. The Apostle Peter acts in a similar fashion when the High Priest’s servant comes to take Yeshua. David and Yeshua both respond by saying that killing or injuring those accusing them was not the way to respond.
Chiastic structure of 2nd Samuel 16
Ahithophel betrayed David on purpose and David asks for his counsel to become foolishness.
Hushai was instructed by David to betray him.
Ziba betrays Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth betrays David (allegedly).
Shimei (who had no previous relationship with David) betrays David.
David acknowledges God’s will.
Shimei continues to “bad mouth” David.
Hushai has to confirm his betrayal of David.
Ahithophel advises Absolom to betray David’s entire house by sleeping with David’s concubines.
Absolom takes Ahithophel’s advise and betrays David further.
Ahithophel’s counsel is considered as worthy as God’s counsel.
Why is this chapter structured to highlight betrayal? To show us that a particular person, David was betrayed and that His descendant, the Messiah would be betrayed in a similar way.
Most of these betrayers lose their lives shortly after David is restored to his throne. Only Hushai and Mephibosheth survive to be restored to David’s good graces.
The interesting twist in this chiaistic structure is that Ahithophel, who caused this avalanche of betrayal is considered as wise as God.
Why did David leave the 10 concubines behind? Absolom’s “going into” the 10 concubines to “play the whore” with him. Absolom’s acts with them caused a permanent break with David by making himself “odious” (bassah, Strong’s H887) to David. It’s a prophesy of the 10 Northern tribes of Israel whored themselves away and commit adultery against God.
Reader: John Walsh. Speaker: Daniel Agee. Summary: Tammy.