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Shimei Curses David

And King David came to (A)Bahurim, and behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul (B)whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out (C)cursing continually as he came. He also threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. And thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, (D)you man of bloodshed, and vile fellow! (E)Yahweh has returned upon you all (F)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

Then (G)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should (H)this dead dog (I)curse my lord the king? Let me pass over now and remove his head.” 10 But the king said, “(J)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? (K)If he curses, and if Yahweh has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (L)then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (M)my son who came forth from my body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, (N)for Yahweh has told him. 12 Perhaps Yahweh will look on my affliction and [a](O)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. 14 Then the king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit Yahweh will return

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. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted.(P) And there he refreshed himself.

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