Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King David is traveling toward Bahurim when Shimei, a man from Saul’s household, emerges and begins hurling curses at him and his retinue.
The words — וּבָא (u./Va') translates literally as "and he came," marking David’s arrival at the location. אִישׁ ('ish) means "a man," identifying Shimei’s sudden appearance from that place.
The thread — This encounter echoes earlier movements at Bahurim in 2 Samuel 3:16 and stands in contrast to the command in Exodus 22:28 not to curse the ruler of the people.
Why it lands — It records a direct verbal assault on a fleeing king, demanding the reader confront the reality of political reversal and the tension between human hostility and divine sovereignty.
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 when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 3:16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
- Exodus 22:28 You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- 1 Samuel 17:43 “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
- 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.’
- 2 Samuel 17:18 But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
- 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.
- 2 Samuel 19:16 Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,
- Psalms 69:26 For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
- Psalms 109:16 For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.
- Psalms 109:28 Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.