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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.

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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”

Shimei Curses David

Now when King David came to (A)Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was (B)Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You [a]bloodthirsty man, (C)you [b]rogue! The Lord has (D)brought upon you all (E)the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a [c]bloodthirsty man!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this (F)dead dog (G)curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

10 But the king said, (H)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because (I)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ (J)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how (K)my son who (L)came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on [d]my affliction, and that the Lord will (M)repay me with (N)good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and [e]kicked up dust. 14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:7 Lit. man of bloodshed
  2. 2 Samuel 16:7 worthless man
  3. 2 Samuel 16:8 Lit. man of bloodshed
  4. 2 Samuel 16:12 So with Kt., LXX, Syr., Vg.; Qr. my eyes; Tg. tears of my eyes
  5. 2 Samuel 16:13 Lit. dusted him with dust