Bible Strands
2 Samuel 19:23
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David speaks to Shimei during his return to Jerusalem, immediately after rebuking Abishai and Joab for demanding blood vengeance. He acts as the reigning monarch asserting his sole authority to pardon life.
The words — וַ/יִּשָּׁ֥בַֽע (va/i.yi.Sha.va') carries the literal sense of “and he swore an oath,” while תָמ֑וּת (ta.Mut) literally means “you will die.” Together they record the king’s formal declaration of immunity.
The thread — This pardon is later tested in 1 Kings 2:37 when Solomon commands Shimei not to cross the Kidron Valley under penalty of death. The arrangement ends in 1 Kings 2:46 when Solomon orders Benaiah to strike Shimei down for violating that boundary.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to observe that royal covenants can be temporary and contingent on behavior. It demands attention to the distinction between a king’s immediate political mercy and the long-term consequences of breaking sworn boundaries.
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
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
Cross-references
- 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.’
- 1 Kings 2:46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.
- 1 Kings 2:37 On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”
- 1 Samuel 28:10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
- 1 Samuel 30:15 “Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”
- Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.