Bible Strands
1 Kings 2:8
Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David, on his deathbed, instructs his son Solomon regarding Shimei, a Benjamite who had previously cursed him during David’s flight from Absalom.
The words — The Hebrew phrase עִמְּ/ךָ ('I.me./kha) literally means “with you,” identifying Shimei as currently residing in Solomon’s presence, while שִֽׁמְעִ֨י (shim.'I) names the specific individual under scrutiny.
The thread — The narrative of Shimei’s cursing at Bahurim originates in 2 Samuel 16:5, and his later confinement to Jerusalem is recorded in 1 Kings 2:36.
Why it lands — The passage commands Solomon to remember a past oath while simultaneously authorizing future judgment, requiring the reader to weigh royal mercy against the demands of justice.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 16:5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
- 1 Kings 2:36 Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.
- Jeremiah 4:2 and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
- 2 Samuel 19:16 Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,