2 Samuel 16:6
ESV
And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
NIV
He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left.
NASB
He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left.
CSB
He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left.
NLT
He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him.
KJV
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
NKJV
And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
What does 2 Samuel 16:6 mean?
As far as David knows in this moment, Saul's family is taking advantage of David's misfortune. David's son Absalom has gathered a strong following and is marching on Jerusalem. David and those loyal to him are racing for the Jordan River (2 Samuel 15:13–17). Along their way, they met Ziba, the servant David placed over the care of Mephibosheth's estate. Ziba brings food and says that Mephibosheth has betrayed David's kindness. He's in Jerusalem, Ziba claims, waiting for the people to return the kingdom to Saul's family (2 Samuel 16:1–4).Soon after, another of Saul's relatives appears. He believes David and his people have committed a capital offense and deserve to be executed, so he is throwing curses and stones. With David in a vulnerable state, Shimei feels free to speak his mind. He blames David for the downfall of the house of Saul (2 Samuel 16:7–8) even though David had nothing to do with Saul and Jonathan's deaths (1 Samuel 31:1–6). When he was king of Judah and Saul's son Ish-bosheth was king of Israel, their armies did fight, although it appears that was more the work of Ish-bosheth's military commander, Abner (2 Samuel 2:8–9, 12–17). When both Ish-bosheth and Abner were murdered, David disavowed any involvement (2 Samuel 3:26–30; 4:5–12).
David is politically vulnerable. But in this moment, he is well protected. His nephew Abishai is next to him, which means his military commander Joab isn't far off. He's surrounded by his "mighty men": an elite unit of about thirty warriors (2 Samuel 23:8–39). Abishai, himself, killed three hundred men with a spear in one battle (2 Samuel 23:18). Shimei is fortunate that David isn't in the mood to fight (2 Samuel 16:11–12).
