2 Samuel 16:7

7 To the accompaniment of curses he shouted, "Get lost, get lost, you butcher, you hellhound!

2 Samuel 16:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:7

And thus said Shimei, when he cursed, come out, come out
Or rather, "go out, go out" F20; that is, out of the nation, where he deserved not to live, as he judged, and out of the kingdom, which he had usurped, as he supposed; and the repeating the words not only denotes his vehement desire to have him gone, but the haste he should make to get out, or he was liable to be overtaken by Absalom and his forces; upbraiding him also with the hurry he was in, and the speedy flight he was making:

thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial;
or wicked man; perhaps referring by these characters in the one to the murder of Uriah, and in the other to his adultery with Bathsheba; and these crimes coming fresh into David's mind hereby, might make him more mild and humble under his reproaches.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (au au) "egredere, egredere", Pagninus, Montanus

2 Samuel 16:7 In-Context

5 When the king got to Bahurim, a man appeared who had connections with Saul's family. His name was Shimei son of Gera. As he followed along he shouted insults
6 and threw rocks right and left at David and his company, servants and soldiers alike.
7 To the accompaniment of curses he shouted, "Get lost, get lost, you butcher, you hellhound!
8 God has paid you back for all your dirty work in the family of Saul and for stealing his kingdom. God has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Look at you now - ruined! And good riddance, you pathetic old man!"
9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "This mangy dog can't insult my master the king this way - let me go over and cut off his head!"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.