1 Kings 2:40

40 Shim`i arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gat to Akhish, to seek his servants; and Shim`i went, and brought his servants from Gat.

1 Kings 2:40 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:40

And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to
Achish to seek his servants
And demand them; through the passion he was in with his servants, and his hurry to get them home, and the covetous disposition which prevailed on him, he might forget, or be tempted to neglect, the prohibition he was under not to go out of Jerusalem; or he might think Solomon had forgot it; or that he could come and go secretly without his knowledge; or if he should know of it, he might hope he would never punish him with death for so small a fault; however, so it was ordered by the providence of God leaving him to his own lust, and the temptations of Satan, that he might suffer just punishment for cursing David:

and Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath;
for the king being at peace with Israel, and a tributary to them also, did not choose to detain them, but delivered them up lest it should be resented, and bring him into trouble.

1 Kings 2:40 In-Context

38 Shim`i said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shim`i lived in Yerushalayim many days.

39 It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shim`i ran away to Akhish, son of Ma`akhah, king of Gat. They told Shim`i, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gat.

40 Shim`i arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gat to Akhish, to seek his servants; and Shim`i went, and brought his servants from Gat.

41 It was told Shlomo that Shim`i had gone from Yerushalayim to Gat, and was come again.

42 The king sent and called for Shim`i, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by the LORD, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good.