1 Kings 2:41 kjv
And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
1 Kings 2:41 nkjv
And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.
1 Kings 2:41 niv
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,
1 Kings 2:41 esv
And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,
1 Kings 2:41 nlt
Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned.
1 Kings 2 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| 1 Ki 2:36-38 | ...commanded Shimei... building a house... not go out... break not... | Solomon's direct command and Shimei's oath. || 1 Ki 2:8-9 | David's instruction to Solomon concerning Shimei: "...bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood." | David's pre-existing judgment on Shimei. || 2 Sam 16:5-8 | Shimei cursed David as he fled from Absalom. | Original offense by Shimei against David. || 2 Sam 19:18-23 | Shimei humbly seeks David's pardon; David spares him conditionally. | Shimei's temporary reprieve from immediate death. || Num 30:2 | "If a man vows a vow... he shall not break his word..." | Principle of upholding vows and oaths. || Dt 23:21-23 | "When you make a vow... you shall not delay to pay it..." | The gravity of vows and the obligation to fulfill them. || Ps 15:4 | "one who swears to his own hurt and does not change..." | The righteous person keeps their oath. || Eccl 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God... it is better that you should not vow..." | Caution against rash vows and necessity of fulfillment. || Mt 5:33-37 | Jesus' teaching on oaths: "...simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’..." | New Testament emphasis on truthfulness over oaths. || Jas 5:12 | "above all, my brothers, do not swear... but let your 'yes' be yes..." | Echoes Jesus' teaching against swearing oaths. || Num 32:23 | "...be sure your sin will find you out." | Inevitable consequence of hidden sin. || Dt 32:35 | "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense..." | God's ultimate justice. || Prov 13:3 | "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." | Prudence in speech avoids destruction. || Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Shimei's pride led to his downfall. || Isa 3:10-11 | "...woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have done shall be done to him." | Consequences of evil deeds. || Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping applies to moral conduct. || Rom 13:1-2 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..." | Violation of king's command is rebellion. || Heb 9:27 | "it is appointed for man once to die, and after that comes judgment..." | Finality of human judgment and accountability. || Josh 7:25 | Achan's punishment for disobedience led to the entire nation's defeat. | Severe consequences for individual disobedience. || 1 Sam 15:23 | Saul's disobedience leads to the tearing away of his kingdom. | Disobedience to God's word has severe consequences. || 1 Ki 2:12 | "So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established." | Solomon's reign solidifying, this act part of it. || Ps 9:8 | "He judges the world in righteousness; he executes judgment on the peoples with equity." | God's just judgment affirmed. |
1 Kings 2 verses
1 Kings 2 41 Meaning
The verse reveals that King Solomon received intelligence confirming that Shimei had violated the solemn oath and explicit command given to him. Shimei had left Jerusalem, traveled to Gath, and then returned, thereby breaking the boundary set for his own preservation and freedom. This report sealed Shimei's fate, providing the necessary factual basis for Solomon to act decisively in accordance with the prior agreement.
1 Kings 2 41 Context
1 Kings chapter 2 details the critical phase of Solomon establishing his kingship. After David's death, Solomon methodically consolidated his power and dealt with potential threats and unresolved matters from his father's reign. This included dealing with Adonijah (1 Ki 2:13-25), Joab (1 Ki 2:28-34), and finally Shimei. David, on his deathbed, specifically instructed Solomon to handle Shimei's past treachery (1 Ki 2:8-9), which included cursing David during his flight from Absalom (2 Sam 16:5-13). Solomon initially showed clemency by allowing Shimei to live in Jerusalem under specific terms: he was not to leave the city, or else he would face death (1 Ki 2:36-37). Shimei explicitly swore an oath to abide by this. Verse 41 confirms the breach of this very clear command and solemn oath. The journey to Gath, while seemingly innocuous for retrieving servants (1 Ki 2:39), was a direct defiance of Solomon's stipulation, triggering the predetermined consequences.
1 Kings 2 41 Word analysis
- And it was told (וַיַּגִּידוּ – wayyag·gi·ḏū): Hebrew higgid, Hiphil perfect 3rd plural. This passive phrasing ("it was reported") highlights that the information came to Solomon without his active seeking, perhaps by vigilant servants or informants. It signifies the reliable confirmation of the event, leaving no room for denial. It shows Solomon's intelligence network was effective.
- King Solomon (לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה – lam·me·leḵ šĕlō·mōh): Emphasizes his sovereign authority and role as judge. As king, he had a duty to uphold justice and consolidate his reign. His actions here underscore his growing power and adherence to his father's final instructions.
- that Shimei (כִּי שִׁמְעִ֣י – kî šim·‘î): Specifies the person under judgment. Shimei represents an enduring threat, linked to the past rebellion against David and possessing the capacity for future disloyalty. His actions prove he remains a potential disruptor to Solomon's nascent reign.
- had gone from Jerusalem (הָלַךְ מִֽירוּשָׁלִַם – hā·laḵ mî·rū·šā·lim): This is the critical breach of the agreed-upon boundary. Jerusalem symbolized Shimei's limited safety zone, granted under oath. His departure signified his defiance and disregard for his word and the king's command.
- to Gath (גַּתָּה – gat·tāh): Gath was a prominent Philistine city (1 Sam 6:17). Travel to a foreign, potentially hostile, city without permission underscored the severity of his transgression, not just a casual stroll outside the city walls. This destination reinforced the suspicion of untrustworthiness.
- and had come again (וַיָּבֹ֥א עוֹד – way·yā·ḇō’ ‘ōḏ): The phrase "had come again" emphasizes that he successfully completed the round trip, signifying his willful violation. He wasn't kidnapped; he knowingly went out and returned, proving the intentional nature of his disobedience rather than an accidental breach or forced removal.
- it was told King Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath: This entire phrase indicates the swiftness and precision of Solomon's intelligence network. The exact nature of Shimei's violation is meticulously reported, removing any ambiguity about his actions and providing indisputable evidence of his transgression. This leaves Shimei without an excuse, making Solomon's subsequent judgment appear fully justified and measured.
- had gone...and had come again: This combination emphasizes the deliberate and complete nature of Shimei's defiance. He wasn't momentarily outside the city walls by accident, but undertook a full journey to a foreign city and returned, cementing his intentional violation of the king's decree.
1 Kings 2 41 Bonus section
The biblical narrative concerning Shimei often serves as an object lesson in accountability and the enduring nature of justice. David, initially merciful, laid the foundation for Shimei's fate by a conditional pardon. Solomon, in his role as a just king, implemented that justice. This episode is also interpreted by some scholars as illustrating God's hand in working out His sovereign purposes through human actions and choices, even the seemingly mundane ones. The violation itself – a trip to Gath to retrieve slaves – demonstrates Shimei's misplaced priorities, valuing material possessions over his life and loyalty, proving him incapable of submitting to royal authority. The story underscores that God honors legitimate earthly authority, and disobedience to it, especially when bound by an oath, carries severe consequences.
1 Kings 2 41 Commentary
1 Kings 2:41 marks a pivotal moment in the establishment of Solomon's kingdom. It signifies the end of Solomon's patience and the confirmation of Shimei's fundamental untrustworthiness. By violating the oath and the king's explicit command to stay within Jerusalem, Shimei brought about his own destruction. Solomon's decisive action, in response to this report, demonstrates his commitment to justice, his wisdom in adhering to his father's final instructions, and his ability to consolidate power without mercy towards those who defy the divine order of his kingdom. This incident illustrates the weighty consequences of broken vows and highlights how a leader, chosen by God, enforces the necessary boundaries for peace and stability, fulfilling divine judgment through human agency. Shimei’s action, seemingly trivial (recovering servants), carried immense weight due to the explicit command and sworn oath, transforming a personal errand into an act of high treason.