Shimei Curses David

Now when King David came to (A)Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was (B)Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You [a]bloodthirsty man, (C)you [b]rogue! The Lord has (D)brought upon you all (E)the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a [c]bloodthirsty man!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this (F)dead dog (G)curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

10 But the king said, (H)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because (I)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ (J)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how (K)my son who (L)came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on [d]my affliction, and that the Lord will (M)repay me with (N)good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and [e]kicked up dust.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:7 Lit. man of bloodshed
  2. 2 Samuel 16:7 worthless man
  3. 2 Samuel 16:8 Lit. man of bloodshed
  4. 2 Samuel 16:12 So with Kt., LXX, Syr., Vg.; Qr. my eyes; Tg. tears of my eyes
  5. 2 Samuel 16:13 Lit. dusted him with dust

Shimei Curses David

As King David approached Bahurim,(A) a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei(B) son of Gera, and he cursed(C) as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.(D) The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”(E)

Then Abishai(F) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(G) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(H)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(I) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(J)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(K) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(L) 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery(M) and restore to me his covenant blessing(N) instead of his curse today.(O)

13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.

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“And see, you have with you (A)Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But (B)he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and (C)I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’

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“And remember, you have with you Shimei(A) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.(B) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore(C) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’

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