Bible Strands
1 Kings 2:39
After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative reports an event three years after Shimei’s oath to Solomon, when messengers inform him that his escaped servants have been located in Gath.
The words — וַיִּבְרְחוּ (va/yiv.re.Chu) translates as "and they fled," marking the decisive breach of Shimei's agreement. מִקֵּץ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים (mi./Ketz sha.Losh sha.Nim) means "after three years," establishing the precise timeframe for the violation.
The thread — 1 Samuel 21:10 and 1 Samuel 27:2 note David's earlier flight to Achish king of Gath, showing the city's role as a refuge for fugitives.
Why it lands — The verse records the factual trigger for Shimei's movement, demonstrating how a specific time limit and a discovered breach set events in motion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 21:10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
- 1 Samuel 27:2 So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.