Bible Strands

1 Kings 2:9

Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses Solomon on his deathbed, issuing a final directive concerning Shimei the son of Gera, who had previously cursed David but was spared by oath (1 Kings 2:8). The instruction is delivered immediately before David’s own burial in the City of David (1 Kings 2:10).

The words — The Hebrew phrase וְ/עַתָּה אַל־ תְּנַקֵּהוּ (ve./'a.Tah 'al- te.na.Ke./hu) literally translates as "and therefore may not you leave him unpunished."

The thread — The directive to bring a "gray head down to Sheol in blood" directly parallels 1 Kings 2:6 and echoes the patriarchal anxiety over gray hair found in Genesis 42:38 and Genesis 44:31.

Why it lands — The text records a command to execute a man David previously swore to spare, placing the practical burden of royal justice on Solomon without editorial commentary. The passage demands a decision on whether political necessity overrides a personal oath, leaving the moral resolution to the successor.

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

וְעַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ thereforeאַל־'al-may notתְּנַקֵּ֔הוּte.na.Ke./huyou leave unpunished/ himכִּ֛יkiforאִ֥ישׁ'ish[are] a manחָכָ֖םcha.Khamwiseאָ֑תָּה'A.tahyouוְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ve./ya.da'.Taand/ you will knowאֵ֣ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[that] whichתַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ta.'a.seh-you will doלּ֔וֹl/oto/ himוְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ve./ho.rad.Taand/ you will bring downאֶת־'et-<obj.>שֵׂיבָת֛וֹsei.va.T/ogrey hair/ hisבְּדָ֖םbe./Damin/ bloodשְׁאֽוֹל׃she.'olSheol

King James Version

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

Cross-references