2 Samuel 19:16-23

16 Then 1Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with 2Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen * sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king.
18 Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king's household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan.
19 So he said to the king, "3Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.
20 "For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, 4the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, "5Should not Shimei be put to death for this, 6because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?"
22 David then said, "7What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? 8Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?"
23 The king said to Shimei, "9You shall not die." Thus the king swore to him.

2 Samuel 19:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 19

David indulging to too much grief for the death of his son, is rebuked by Joab, and threatened with a revolt of the people from him, if he did not change his conduct, which be accordingly did, 2Sa 19:1-8; upon which the men of Israel were the first that moved for the bringing him back to Jerusalem, and the men of Judah were solicited to join with them in it, which was effected, 2Sa 19:9-15; and at Jordan, Shimei, that had cursed him, met him, and asked his pardon, and was forgiven, 2Sa 19:16-23; and when come to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth excused so well his not going out with him, that he had half his land restored to him, which had been given to his servant, 2Sa 19:24-30; and Barzillai, who had very liberally supplied the king, was allowed to return to his own city, and Chimham his son was taken to court, 2Sa 19:31-40; and a contention arose between the men of Israel and of Judah about the restoration of the king, which issued in an insurrection, as the next chapter shows, 2Sa 19:41-43.

Cross References 9

  • 1. 2 Samuel 16:5-13; 1 Kings 2:8
  • 2. 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 2 Samuel 19:26, 27
  • 3. 1 Samuel 22:15; 2 Samuel 16:6-8
  • 4. 2 Samuel 16:5
  • 5. 2 Samuel 16:7, 8
  • 6. Exodus 22:28
  • 7. 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 16:9, 10
  • 8. 1 Samuel 11:13
  • 9. 1 Kings 2:8

Footnotes 1

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