³⁶ Then the king sent for Shimei^(A) and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.

⁸ “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.’ ⁹ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom;^(D) you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! ⁸ 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)

⁹ 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)

⁵³ Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

²⁸ Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.

²⁴ But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.