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.

¹⁷ “You are more righteous than I,”^(A) he said. “You have treated me well,^(B) but I have treated you badly.^{(C) 18} You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered^(D) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. ¹⁹ When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward^(E) you well for the way you treated me today. ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king^(F) and that the kingdom^(G) of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear^(H) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.^(I)”

²² So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.^(J)

⁷ He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders^(A) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? ⁸ Is that why you have all conspired^(B) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant^(C) with the son of Jesse.^(D) None of you is concerned^(E) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

⁹ But Doeg^(F) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub^(G) at Nob.^{(H) 10} Ahimelek inquired^(I) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions^(J) and the sword^(K) of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. ¹² Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

¹³ Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired^(L) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

¹⁴ Ahimelek answered the king, “Who^(M) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? ¹⁵ Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

¹⁶ But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.^(N)”

¹⁷ Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling^(O) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

¹⁸ The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”^(P) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.^{(Q) 19} He also put to the sword^(R) Nob,^(S) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(T) named Abiathar,^(U) escaped and fled to join David.^{(V) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg^(W) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you^(X) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

Saying 3

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^(A) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^(B) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards^(C) everyone for their righteousness^(D) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered^(E) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(F) me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,^(G) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

³⁰ Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? ³¹ As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom^(A) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”