Who Was Shimei in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Shimei was a man from the house of Saul who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion but was later pardoned, only to break his oath and be executed by Solomon.
Shimei was a man from the house of Saul who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion but was later pardoned, only to break his oath and be executed by Solomon.
"And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera... And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David... And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial." — 2 Samuel 16:5-8 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Shimei, son of Gera of the house of Saul, appears in 2 Samuel 16 as one of the most bitter opponents David faced during his flight from Absalom. When David and his men came to Bahurim, Shimei came out cursing David, throwing stones at him and his servants. He accused David of being a 'bloody man' and a 'man of Belial,' claiming that the Lord was punishing David for the blood of Saul's house. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, but David refused: 'Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.' David's patience was remarkable. He accepted the cursing as potentially from God and trusted God to turn it to good. When David returned victorious, Shimei came to meet him with a thousand men of Benjamin, fell down before the king, and confessed his sin. Abishai again demanded his death, but David said, 'Shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?' He swore to Shimei, 'Thou shalt not die.' But David did not forget. On his deathbed, he instructed Solomon to 'bring his hoar head down to the grave with blood,' because Shimei had cursed him with a grievous curse. Solomon placed Shimei on house arrest in Jerusalem, warning that if he crossed the Kidron Valley, he would die. For three years Shimei obeyed. Then two of his slaves ran away to Gath, and Shimei went to retrieve them. When Solomon heard, he summoned Shimei and said, 'Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father... now therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.' Solomon ordered Benaiah to execute him. Shimei's story illustrates both the mercy of David and the justice of Solomon. It also reminds us that curses against God's anointed will not go unpunished, and that mercy received must not be despised.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, 2 Samuel 16:5-8, sits inside 2 Samuel 16. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera... And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David... And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial."
Supporting Passages
"And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day."
"The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father... So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died."
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