2 Samuel 16:5-13

Shimei Curses David

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

6 And he threw 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.

7 And Shimei said as he ⁴cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!

8 The LORD ⁵has avenged on you all ⁶the blood 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. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood."

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

10 But the king said, ⁹"What have I to do with you, ¹⁰you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, ¹¹my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.

12 It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me,^[a] and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today."

13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and ¹²cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.

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2 Samuel 16:5-13 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

1. See 2 Samuel 3:16
2. 2 Samuel 19:16; See 1 Kgs. 2:8, 36-46
3. 2 Samuel 19:21
4. [See ver. 5 above]
5. Judg. 9:24, 56, 57; 1 Kings 2:32, 33
6. See 2 Samuel 1:16
7. 2 Samuel 9:8; 1 Samuel 24:14; [2 Samuel 3:8]
8. [Exodus 22:28]
9. 2 Samuel 19:22
10. See 1 Samuel 26:6
11. 2 Samuel 12:11
12. 2 Samuel 19:21

Footnotes 1

[a]. Septuagint, Vulgate will look upon my affliction

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.