Shimei

5King David came near a town called Bahurim. A man from Saul's family came out to meet him. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. He kept cursing David as he came, shouting for bad things to happen to him.

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

NoteBahurim was a small town near the road David was walking. To curse someone means to shout for bad things to happen to them.

6He threw stones at David and at all of David's servants. All the people and all the strong fighters walked on David's right side and his left side.

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.

NoteThe King James calls them David's "mighty men." They were his bravest and strongest soldiers.

7This is what Shimei shouted as he cursed. "Get out, get out, you killer! You are a worthless man!"

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

NoteThe King James says "thou man of Belial." That was a way of calling someone bad and good for nothing.

8"The LORD is paying you back for the blood of Saul's family. You became king in Saul's place. Now the LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are caught in your own trouble, because you are a killer."

The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

NoteShimei is blaming David for people in Saul's family who died. He thinks David took the throne in a wrong way.

9Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, spoke to the king. "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head."

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

NoteAbishai was David's nephew and one of his best fighters. Calling someone a "dead dog" was a very strong insult. It meant the person was worth nothing.

10The king said, "This is not your business, you sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse me. The LORD told him to curse David. So who can ask why he did it?"

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. Her sons fought for David and were quick to get angry.

11David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look. My own son wants to kill me. So of course this man from Benjamin's family wants to hurt me too. Leave him alone. Let him curse. The LORD told him to."

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

NoteBenjamin was one of the twelve family groups of Israel. King Saul came from that group, so Shimei's family and David's family did not get along.

12"Maybe the LORD will see how much I am hurting. Maybe he will give me good things because of the cursing I get today."

It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13So David and his men kept walking down the road. Shimei walked along the side of the hill across from them. As he went, he cursed, threw stones, and threw dirt at David.

And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

NoteThrowing dirt at someone showed everyone that you hated them.

14The king and all the people with him were worn out when they arrived. They rested there and felt better.

And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

16Shimei son of Gera hurried down with the men of Judah. He was from Bahurim, from the tribe of Benjamin. He came to meet King David.

And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

NoteShimei had thrown stones at David and shouted at him when David ran away from Jerusalem. Benjamin was the tribe of Saul, the king before David.

17A thousand men of Benjamin came with him. So did Ziba, who ran Saul's household. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurried down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

NoteZiba was the servant who took care of Saul's land and household.

18They crossed at the shallow place to carry the king's family over. They wanted to do whatever pleased him. When Shimei crossed the Jordan, he bowed low before the king.

And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

19He said, "My king, please do not count me guilty. Please forget the wrong I did to you. I did it the day you left Jerusalem. Please do not hold it against me.

And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20I know that I did wrong. So today I am the first of all the northern families of Israel to come and meet you."

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

NoteThe "house of Joseph" meant the tribes living in the north of the country.

21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei die for this? He cursed the king that God chose."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?

Note"The LORD's anointed" means the king God had chosen. Cursing him was treated as a very serious crime.

22David said, "Sons of Zeruiah, why are you against me today? No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know that I am king over Israel."

And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. Her sons Joab and Abishai were David's nephews and fought in his army.

23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king made him a promise.

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

8"Shimei son of Gera is near you. He is from the family of Benjamin, from the town of Bahurim. He said hard, hateful things about me the day I went to Mahanaim. Later he came to meet me at the Jordan River. I promised the LORD I would not kill him with a sword.

And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

NoteBenjamin was one of the twelve families of Israel. To curse someone meant to ask out loud for bad things to happen to them. People took that very seriously. To promise "by the LORD" was the strongest promise there was.

9But do not treat him as if he did nothing wrong. You are wise. You know what you should do to him. See that he dies, old as he is."

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

NoteDavid had promised not to kill Shimei himself. Solomon had never made that promise.

36Then the king sent for Shimei. He said, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go anywhere else.

And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

37The day you leave and cross the Kidron valley, you will surely die. It will be your own fault."

For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

NoteThe Kidron valley lay just outside Jerusalem. Crossing it meant leaving the city.

38Shimei said to the king, "That is fair. I will do what you say, my king." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time.

And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39Three years later, two of Shimei's servants ran away. They went to Achish son of Maacah, the king of Gath. Someone told Shimei, "Your servants are in Gath."

And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.

NoteGath was a Philistine city. The Philistines were enemies of Israel. Shimei's servants were slaves who worked for him.

40So Shimei put a saddle on his donkey and rode to Achish in Gath. He looked for his servants and brought them back.

And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

41Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.

And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

42The king sent for Shimei. He said, "Did I not make you promise before the LORD? I warned you that the day you went out anywhere, you would die. And you told me my word was fair.

And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.

43So why did you break your promise to the LORD? Why did you not obey my command?"

Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

44The king also said, "You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. So the LORD will make you pay for that wrong.

The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

45But King Solomon will be blessed. David's throne will stand safe before the LORD forever."

And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

46Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Now Solomon's hold on the kingdom was firm.

So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.