The concentric structures of the Absalom cycle in 2 Samuel

I've been doing some marking this week on 2 Samuel 16. Absalom normally slips past my notice (my mind normally jumps straight through Saul-David-Solomon) but it's interesting how the Absalom cycle plays an important role in the story of David and links to bigger themes of dependence on God in the midst of sin.

2 Samuel 16 comes within the centre of the Absalom cycle, where Absalom takes the place of David as king. But not only does Absalom take the place of David, Ziba takes the place of Mephibosheth, and Hushai takes the place of Ahithophel in being Absalom's advisor. It doesn't end up well for any of them. The contrast here is to David who did not presume to usurp God's king.

A Absalom usurps

B Ziba takes the place of Mephibosheth

C Shimei

B` Hushai takes the place of Ahithophel

A` Absalom dies 

Right in the centre (2 Samuel 16:5-14) comes Shimei, and it's an interesting exchange (which I guess is why it was chosen for the exegetical essay). From what's happened around it we can expect some kind of replacement, which we get, but it's odd. Shimei comes out cursing David and flinging stones and dirt at him. He is upset that Israel is now saddled with a Davidic dynasty instead of a Saulide dynasty. He wants David to pay for Saul (and presumably Jonathan) dying. Abishai kindly offers to off his head but David understands something Abishai doesn't. While Shimei's reasons for cursing are misplaced, he is correct that David has blood on his hands. Indeed, in the central verse, David is confident that Shimei speaks for Yhwh, even if the details are incorrect. David's final words are hoping that Yhwh might forgive him.

A 5a David enters

B 5b-6 Shimei pelts David

C 7-8 Shimei curses David as a man of blood

D 9 Abishai curses Shimei

E 10 David defends Shimei who speaks for Yhwh

D` 11 David rebukes Abishai

C` 12 David hopes Yhwh will forgive his iniquity

B` 13 Shimei pelts David

A` 14 David exits

So although Shimei curses David for how he treated Saul, David is actually justified in this passage for his upright behaviour throughout. David is beyond reproach with regards to Saul. Where his guilt remains though is to do with Uriah and Bathsheba, for blood still remains on his hands. He may not have usurped Saul, trusting as he did in Yhwh's timing, but he did take the place of Uriah and did so by having him murdered.