1 Kings 2:36

36 The king next called in Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but you are not to leave the area.

1 Kings 2:36 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:36

And the king sent and called for Shimei
Who had cursed his father; he lived at Bahurim, in the tribe of Benjamin, and from thence he sent for him to him, ( 2 Samuel 16:5 ) ;

and said unto him, build thee an house in Jerusalem and dwell there,
and go not from thence any where;
the orders were to remove from Bahurim to Jerusalem, where he was to provide himself a dwelling house, and there continue, and never go out of the city, at least not further on any side of it than it was to the brook Kidron, which was not more than half a mile from the city. This Solomon ordered, to prevent this man going about in the country sowing and stirring up sedition; and that he might be under his eye and notice, that should he commit any evil, and give him an opportunity of punishing him, he might do it as his father had directed him; and he might judge from the temper of the man, and indeed from the nature of men in general, that what they are forbidden they are the most prone unto, that he would transgress in this case, and give him an occasion against him.

1 Kings 2:36 In-Context

34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went back, struck Joab, and killed him. He was buried in his family plot out in the desert.
35 The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
36 The king next called in Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but you are not to leave the area.
37 If you so much as cross the Brook Kidron, you're as good as dead - you will have decreed your own death sentence."
38 Shimei answered the king, "Oh, thank you! Your servant will do exactly as my master the king says." Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.