2 Samuel 16:5-14

David Is Cursed

5 When King David came to ¹Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul ²whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ³cursing continually as he came.

6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, ⁴you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 "⁵The LORD has returned upon you all ⁶the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!"

9 Then ⁷Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should ⁸this dead dog ⁹curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head."

10 But the king said, "¹⁰What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? ¹¹If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, 'Curse David,' ¹²then who shall say, 'Why have you done so?' "

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, ¹³my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much * more * now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, ¹⁴for the LORD has told him.

12 "Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and ¹⁵return good to me instead of his cursing this day."

13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside * parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.

14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

2 Samuel 16:5-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 16

In this chapter is an account of Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, getting his inheritance by misrepresentation of him, and by presents to David, 2Sa 16:1-4; and of Shimei's cursing David as he passed along, which David bore patiently, and would not suffer others to avenge it on him, 2Sa 16:5-14; and of Hushai's offer of his service to Absalom, who admitted him to be of his privy council, 2Sa 16:15-19; and of the counsel which Ahithophel gave, 2Sa 15:20-23.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 3:16; 2 Samuel 17:18
• 2. 2 Samuel 19:16-23; 1 Kin 2:8, 9, 44
• 3. Exodus 22:28; 1 Samuel 17:43
• 4. 2 Samuel 12:9
• 5. 2 Samuel 21:1-9
• 6. 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 3:28, 29; 2 Samuel 4:11, 12
• 7. 1 Samuel 26:8; 2 Samuel 19:21; Luke 9:54
• 8. 2 Samuel 9:8
• 9. Exodus 22:28
• 10. 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 19:22
• 11. John 18:11
• 12. Romans 9:20
• 13. 2 Samuel 12:11
• 14. Genesis 45:5; 1 Samuel 26:19
• 15. Deuteronomy 23:5; Romans 8:28

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "take off"
• [b]. Lit "my body"
• [c]. Lit "the LORD will return"