Ziba, Shimei and the Ten Women

Ziba brings donkeys, bread, raisins, summer fruit and wine. "Where is thy master's son?" "He abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father." "Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth."

Shimei son of Gera comes out cursing and throwing stones: "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul." Abishai: "Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head." "Let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David… It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction."

Hushai greets Absalom: "God save the king." Ahithophel advises: "Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father." "So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel." "The counsel of Ahithophel… was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God."

The ten women

Taking a king's concubines asserted claim to his throne (compare 3:7; 1 Kings 2:22). For the women it was public sexual violence, ordered by a counselor and carried out by a prince. When David returns he will shut them up "in ward" for life, "living in widowhood" (20:3). They are never named and never speak.

Shimei

Shimei voices what Saul's supporters believed: David's rise was built on the blood of Saul's house (Abner, Ish-bosheth, and later the seven of chapter 21). David accepts the curse as possibly from God; later he spares Shimei (19:23), and on his deathbed tells Solomon to deal with him (1 Kings 2:8–9).

Ziba's claim

Did Mephibosheth hope to become king? He later says Ziba slandered him (19:26–27). David splits the land between them. The narrative leaves the truth open.