8. You took Saul's kingdom, and now the Lord is punishing you for murdering so many of Saul's family. The Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom, and you are ruined, you murderer!”
9. Abishai, whose mother was Zeruiah, said to the king, “Your Majesty, why do you let this dog curse you? Let me go over there and cut off his head!”
10. “This is none of your business,” the king said to Abishai and his brother Joab. “If he curses me because the Lord told him to, who has the right to ask why he does it?”
11. And David said to Abishai and to all his officials, “My own son is trying to kill me; so why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? The Lord told him to curse; so leave him alone and let him do it.
12. Perhaps the Lord will notice my misery and give me some blessings to take the place of his curse.”
13. So David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them, walking on the hillside; he was cursing and throwing stones and earth at them as he went.
14. The king and all his men were worn out when they reached the Jordan, and there they rested.
15. Absalom and all the Israelites with him entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them.
16. When Hushai, David's trusted friend, met Absalom, he shouted, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17. “What has happened to your loyalty to your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why didn't you go with him?”