2 Samuel 16:12

12 Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction^[a] and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today."

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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

2 Samuel 16:12 In-Context

10 The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses [me] this way because the Lord told him, 'Curse David!' Therefore, who can say, 'Why did you do that?' "

11 Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life-how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse [me]; the Lord has told him to.

12 Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today."

13 So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed [David], and threw stones and dirt at him.

14 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read iniquity