Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth, meets David with provisions, and by false insinuations obtains the grant of his masters property, 2Sam 16:1-4. Shimei abuses and curses David, who restrains Abishai from slaying him, 2Sam 16:5-14. Hushai makes a feigned tender of his services to Absalom, 2Sam 16:15-19. Absalom calls a council and Ahithophel advises him to go in to his father's concubines, 2Sam 16:20-22. Character of Ahithophel as a counselor, 2Sam 16:23.
Verse 1
Two hundred loaves of bread - The word loaf gives us a false idea of the ancient Jewish bread; it was thin cakes, not yeasted and raised like ours.
Bunches of raisins - See on 1Sam 25:18 (note).
Summer fruits - These were probably pumpions, cucumbers, or watermelons. The two latter are extensively used in those countries to refresh travelers in the burning heat of the summer. Mr. Harmer supposes they are called summer fruits on this very account.
A bottle of wine - A goat's skin full of wine; this I have already shown was the general bottle in the Eastern countries; see on 1Sam 25:18 (note).