1 Kings 2:44

44 The king said moreover to Shimei, "Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou did to David my father. Therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

1 Kings 2:44 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:44

The king said moreover to Shimei
Not as another reason for his putting him to death, but to remind him of his former sins, and to observe to him the providence of God in suffering him to fall into others, that justice might take place upon him for them also:

thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that
thou didst to David my father;
which conscience must bear witness to, and accuse him of, not only of the words and actions themselves uttered and done by him, but of the malice and wickedness from whence they sprung:

therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
the punishment of it; which though not directly inflicted for that, yet in providence was brought about as a just retaliation for it.

1 Kings 2:44 In-Context

42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, "Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, `Know for certain, on the day thou goest out and walkest abroad anywhere, that thou shalt surely die'? And thou said unto me, `The word that I have heard is good.'

43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I have charged thee with?"

44 The king said moreover to Shimei, "Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou did to David my father. Therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

45 and King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever."

46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who went out and fell upon him so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.