1 Kings 2:44

44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart ¹all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will ²bring back your harm on your 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 the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘What you say is good; I will obey. ’

43 Why then have you not kept your oath to the Lord and the commandment with which I commanded you? ”

44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head.

45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. ”

46 Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Cross References

• 1. 2:44 See 2 Sam. 16:5-14
• 2. 2:44 See 1 Sam. 25:39