Shimei Curses David

When King David came to (A)Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was (B)Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came (C)he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he (D)cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The Lord (E)has avenged on you all (F)the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this (G)dead dog (H)curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, (I)“What have I to do with you, (J)you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (K)my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me,[a] and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and (L)cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, (M)arrived weary at the Jordan.[b] And there he refreshed himself.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:12 Septuagint, Vulgate will look upon my affliction
  2. 2 Samuel 16:14 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks at the Jordan

Shimei Curses David

As King David approached Bahurim,(A) a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei(B) son of Gera, and he cursed(C) as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.(D) The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”(E)

Then Abishai(F) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(G) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(H)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(I) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(J)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(K) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(L) 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery(M) and restore to me his covenant blessing(N) instead of his curse today.(O)

13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted.(P) And there he refreshed himself.

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