2 Samuel 16:5-14

Shimei Curses David

5 King David came up to Bahurim and suddenly a man from there [was] coming out from the family of the house of Saul, and his name [was] Shimei the son of Gera. {He was cursing as he came out}.
6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David and at all the people and at all the mighty warriors on his right and on his left.
7 Shimei said while cursing him, "Go out, go out, [you] {man of bloodshed}, [you] {man of wickedness}.
8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the household of Saul {whom you have supplanted as king}, and Yahweh has given the kingship into the hand of Absalom your son. Look, you [are] in disaster for you [are] a man of blood."
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."
10 The king said, "{What do we have in common}, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because Yahweh has said to him 'Curse David,' who can say, "Why have you done this?"
11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son who came out of my loins [is] seeking my life. Now {as far as} [this] Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him.
12 Perhaps Yahweh will look {in my eye} and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.
13 Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, {cursing as he went}. He threw stones beside him and threw dust in the air.
14 When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.

2 Samuel 16:5-14 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 11

  • [a]. Literally "[He was] coming out, coming out and cursing"
  • [b]. Literally "man of bloods"
  • [c]. Literally "and man of the wickedness"
  • [d]. Literally "who you have reigned in place of him"
  • [e]. Literally "What [is] for me and what [is] for you"
  • [f]. Hebrew "Because"
  • [g]. Hebrew "intestines"
  • [h]. Literally "and even that now"
  • [i]. According to the reading tradition (Qere); Kethib has "at my guilt"
  • [j]. Literally "going and cursing"
  • [k]. Hebrew "flung"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.