David Is Cursed

When King David came to (A)Bahurim, behold, a man was coming out from there from the family of the house of Saul, and (B)his name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he was coming out, (C)cursing as he came. He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. This is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Go away, go away, (D)you man of bloodshed and worthless man! (E)The Lord has brought back upon you all (F)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught 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? Now let me go over and [a]cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “[b](J)What business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? (K)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (L)then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (M)my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, (N)for the Lord has told him. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look on my [c]misery and [d](O)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:9 Lit take off
  2. 2 Samuel 16:10 Lit What to me and to you, an ancient idiom
  3. 2 Samuel 16:12 As in ancient versions; MT wrongdoing
  4. 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit the Lord will return

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came. And he cast 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. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow: Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art taken in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? [a]Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him. 12 It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing of me this day. 13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones [b]at him, and cast dust. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came [c]weary; and he refreshed himself there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:10 Or, When he curseth, and when etc. Another reading is, So let him curse, because.
  2. 2 Samuel 16:13 Hebrew over against.
  3. 2 Samuel 16:14 Or, to Ayephim