2 Samuel 19:21

21 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for what he did? He called down curses on you. And you are the LORD's anointed king."

2 Samuel 19:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:21

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said
The same person that would have taken off the head of Shimei at the time he cursed David, if he would have given him leave, ( 2 Samuel 16:9 ) ;

shall not Shimei be put to death for this?
this humiliation and acknowledgment he has made, shall he be forgiven on that account? shall so small a matter as this atone for so great a crime he has been guilty of, as that he shall not die?

because
or "though" ^F12

he cursed the Lord's anointed;
is asking pardon sufficient to expiate so foul an offence, for which according to the law he ought to die? or for this action which he has done, as the Arabic version, in cursing the Lord's anointed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (yk) , "quamvis, vel cum tamen", Piscator.

2 Samuel 19:21 In-Context

19 He said to him, "You are my king and master. Please don't hold me guilty. Please forgive me for the wrong things I did on the day you left Jerusalem. Please forget all about them.

20 I know I've sinned. But today I've come down here to welcome you. I'm the first member of Joseph's whole family to do it."

21 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for what he did? He called down curses on you. And you are the LORD's anointed king."

22 But David replied, "You and Joab are sons of Zeruiah. What do you and I have in common? Abishai, you have now become my enemy! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel again?"

23 So the king took an oath and made a promise to Shimei. He said to him, "You aren't going to be put to death."