2 Samuel 16:9-14

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

10 The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?^[a] He curses [me] this way because the Lord ^[b] 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,^[c] intends to take my life^[d]-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^[e] 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^[f] exhausted, so they rested there.

2 Samuel 16:9-14 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.

Footnotes

• [a] 2 Sm 3:39; 19:22
• [b] Alt Hb tradition reads If he curses, and if the Lord
• [c] Lit son who came from my belly
• [d] 2 Sm 12:10
• [e] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read iniquity
• [f] LXX adds at the Jordan