Add parallel Print Page Options

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit Yahweh will return

Shimei Curses David

King David came up to Bahurim and suddenly a man from there was coming out from the family of the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei the son of Gera. He was cursing as he came out.[a] And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David and at all the people and at all the mighty warriors on his right and on his left. Shimei said while cursing him, “Go out, go out, you man of bloodshed,[b] you man of wickedness.[c] Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the household of Saul whom you have supplanted as king,[d] and Yahweh has given the kingship into the hand of Absalom your son. Look, you are in disaster for you are a man of blood.” Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.” 10 The king said, “What do we have in common,[e] sons of Zeruiah? If[f] he curses because Yahweh has said to him ‘Curse David,’ who can say, “Why have you done this?” 11 David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came out of my loins[g] is seeking my life. Now as far as[h] this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him. 12 Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye[i] and repay good for me in place of his curse this day. 13 Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, cursing as he went.[j] He threw stones beside him and threw[k] dust in the air. 14 When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:5 Literally “He was coming out, coming out and cursing”
  2. 2 Samuel 16:7 Literally “man of bloods”
  3. 2 Samuel 16:7 Literally “and man of the wickedness”
  4. 2 Samuel 16:8 Literally “who you have reigned in place of him”
  5. 2 Samuel 16:10 Literally “What is for me and what is for you”
  6. 2 Samuel 16:10 Hebrew “Because”
  7. 2 Samuel 16:11 Hebrew “intestines”
  8. 2 Samuel 16:11 Literally “and even that now”
  9. 2 Samuel 16:12 According to the reading tradition (Qere); Kethib has “at my guilt”
  10. 2 Samuel 16:13 Literally “going and cursing”
  11. 2 Samuel 16:13 Hebrew “flung”