Verse 5

Shimei Curses David and His Men Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul’s extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached.

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Sam 3:16 : 16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him,“Go back!” So he returned home.
  • Exod 22:28 : 28 “You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
  • 1 Kgs 2:8-9 : 8 “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the LORD,‘I will not strike you down with the sword.’ 9 But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.”
  • 1 Kgs 2:36-46 : 36 Next the king summoned Shimei and told him,“Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there– but you may not leave there to go anywhere! 37 If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will certainly die! You will be responsible for your own death.” 38 Shimei said to the king,“My master the king’s proposal is acceptable. Your servant will do as you say.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. 39 Three years later two of Shimei’s servants ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told,“Look, your servants are in Gath.” 40 So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath. 41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned, 42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him,“You will recall that I made you take an oath by the LORD, and I solemnly warned you,‘If you ever leave and go anywhere, know for sure that you will certainly die.’ You said to me,‘The proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.’ 43 Why then have you broken the oath you made before the LORD and disobeyed the order I gave you?” 44 Then the king said to Shimei,“You are well aware of the way you mistreated my father David. The LORD will punish you for what you did. 45 But King Solomon will be empowered and David’s dynasty will endure permanently before the LORD. 46 The king then gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada who went and executed Shimei. So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom.
  • 1 Sam 17:43 : 43 The Philistine said to David,“Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
  • 2 Sam 17:18 : 18 But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it.
  • 2 Sam 19:16-23 : 16 Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him, along with Ziba the servant of Saul’s household, and with him his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurriedly crossed the Jordan within sight of the king. 18 They crossed at the ford in order to help the king’s household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate.Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king. 19 He said to the king,“Don’t think badly of me, my lord, and don’t recall the sin of your servant on the day when you, my lord the king, left Jerusalem! Please don’t call it to mind! 20 For I, your servant, know that I sinned, and I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied,“For this should not Shimei be put to death? After all, he cursed the LORD’s anointed!” 22 But David said,“What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 The king said to Shimei,“You won’t die.” The king vowed an oath concerning this.
  • 2 Sam 16:14 : 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself.
  • Ps 69:26 : 26 For they harass the one whom you discipline; they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish.
  • Ps 109:16-19 : 16 For he never bothered to show kindness; he harassed the oppressed and needy, and killed the disheartened. 17 He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him. He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings. 18 He made cursing a way of life, so curses poured into his stomach like water and seeped into his bones like oil. 19 May a curse attach itself to him, like a garment one puts on, or a belt one wears continually!
  • Ps 109:28 : 28 They curse, but you will bless. When they attack, they will be humiliated, but your servant will rejoice.
  • Prov 26:2 : 2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.
  • Eccl 10:20 : 20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.
  • Isa 8:21 : 21 They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward.
  • Matt 5:11-12 : 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.