2 Samuel 16:12

12 Maybe ADONAI will notice how I'm treating him, and ADONAI will reward me with good instead of his curses."

2 Samuel 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:12

It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction
Through the rebellion of his son, and now aggravated by the cursing of Shimei; that is, with an eye of pity and commiseration, and deliver him out of it: or "look upon my eye" F24; for there is a various reading; the tear of mine eye, as the Targum; so Jarchi and R. Isaiah; the tears in it, which fell plentifully from it, on account of his troubles, and particularly the curses and reproaches of Shimei:

and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day;
he does not speak with assurance, yet with hope; he knew his sins deserved such treatment, but also that God was gracious and merciful, and pitied his children, and resented all ill usage of them; and therefore hoped he would favour him with such intimations of his love as would support him, comfort, refresh him, and do him good, see ( Romans 8:28 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (ynyeb) "in oculum meum", Montanus; "oculum meum lachrymantem", Munster.

2 Samuel 16:12 In-Context

10 The king said, "Do you sons of Tz'ruyah and I have anything in common? Let him curse. If ADONAI tells him, 'Curse David,' who has the right to ask, 'Why are you doing it?'"
11 David then said to Avishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life. So how much more now this Binyamini! Let him alone; and let him curse, if ADONAI told him to.
12 Maybe ADONAI will notice how I'm treating him, and ADONAI will reward me with good instead of his curses."
13 So David and his men went on their way, while on the opposite hillside Shim'i kept pace with him, cursing, throwing stones and flinging dust as he went.
14 The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so he rested there.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.