1 Kings 2 8

1 Kings 2:8 kjv

And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

1 Kings 2:8 nkjv

"And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'

1 Kings 2:8 niv

"And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.'

1 Kings 2:8 esv

And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'

1 Kings 2:8 nlt

"And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the LORD that I would not kill him.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 8 Meaning

This verse recounts David's instruction to Solomon concerning Shimei, son of Gera. David reminds Solomon of Shimei's grievous curse against him when he fled Absalom's rebellion. It also notes that David swore an oath to Shimei at the Jordan River, promising not to put him to death by the sword upon his return. This forms a crucial part of David's final counsel to his son for securing the kingdom.

1 Kings 2 8 Context

This verse is found within the final charge of King David to his son Solomon, as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 2. David, near death, instructs Solomon on the proper administration of justice and how to consolidate his newly established kingdom. He provides specific directives regarding four individuals: Joab (a powerful and ruthless general), the sons of Barzillai (who showed David kindness), and Shimei. David's counsel to Solomon concerning Shimei ensures that a past grievance, linked to lingering opposition from Saul's lineage, is finally and strategically resolved, securing Solomon's throne by dealing with a potentially divisive figure who represented continued disloyalty. Historically, Shimei was a Benjamite from Bahurim who severely cursed King David during his vulnerable flight from Absalom's rebellion, viewing David as a "man of blood" and blaming him for the demise of Saul's house. While David, upon his return, publicly forgave Shimei and swore an oath not to execute him, the underlying threat posed by Shimei's continued animosity and ability to stir up dissent remained.

Word Analysis

• And, behold (וְהִנֵּה - vəhinneh): An intensifying particle meaning "and lo," or "and indeed." It serves to draw special attention to the statement that follows, emphasizing the significance of this particular instruction concerning Shimei.
• thou hast with thee (אִתְּךָ - ʾittəkā): Emphasizes Shimei's continued presence in Solomon's sphere, indicating that he is still a live issue or a potential threat residing within the kingdom, not an abstract or distant problem.
• Shimei (שִׁמְעִי - Shimʿî): Derived from a root meaning "to hear" or "to be famous." He represents the remaining opposition to David's rule from the house of Saul, embodying tribal and political dissent.
• the son of Gera (בֶּן־גֵּרָא - ben-gêrāʾ): A patronymic that precisely identifies Shimei and roots him in his lineage, further tying him to his Benjamite identity.
• a Benjamite of Bahurim (בֶּן־יְמִינִי מִבַּחוּרִים - ben-yemînî mibbahurim):
  • Benjamite: Pertaining to the tribe of Benjamin, King Saul's tribe. This tribal affiliation is crucial, as many Benjamites remained resentful of David's usurpation of Saul's kingdom, making Shimei a symbol of lingering political instability.
  • Bahurim: A village east of Jerusalem where Shimei met David with stones and curses during David's flight. It marks the geographical location of Shimei's overt act of rebellion.
• which cursed me with a grievous curse (וְהוּא קִֽלְלַנִי קְלָלָה נִמְרָצֶת - wəhûʾ qiləlanî qəlālāh nimrāṣet):
  • cursed (קִֽלְלַנִי - qiləlanî): From the root qalal, meaning "to be light," and in this context, "to treat lightly, despise," leading to "curse." This denotes verbal abuse and active invocation of evil against David, indicative of deep contempt and disloyalty.
  • grievous curse (קְלָלָה נִמְרָצֶת - qəlālāh nimrāṣet): A strong or potent curse. This was no casual insult but a bitter, deeply hostile, and public condemnation, accompanying acts of throwing stones and dust. Shimei publicly declared David to be a "man of blood" and a "worthless fellow," attributing his misfortunes to divine retribution for his alleged wrongdoing against Saul's house.
• in the day when I went to Mahanaim (בְּיוֹם לֶכְתִּי מַחֲנָיִמָה - bəyôm leḵtî Maḥanāyimâ): Establishes the specific time and circumstance of Shimei's treason—during David's flight from Absalom. This was David's moment of profound vulnerability, making Shimei's act especially heinous and treacherous. Mahanaim was where David regrouped during the rebellion.
• but he came down with me to Jordan (וְהוּא יָרַד אִתִּי הַיַּרְדֵּן - wəhûʾ yārad ʾittî hayYarden): Notes Shimei's proactive action to seek reconciliation with David when David was returning in victory. This was an act of expediency on Shimei's part, hoping to avoid punishment by aligning himself with the re-established king.
• and I sware to him by the LORD (וָאֵֽשָׁבַע לוֹ בַֽיהוָה - wāʾēšāvāʿ lô vāYehwāh): David made a solemn oath using the Divine Name, YHWH. This invoked God as a witness, rendering the oath sacred and binding. David’s commitment to this oath highlights his faithfulness to his word even to a disloyal enemy.
• saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword (לֵאמֹר אִם־אֲמִיתְךָ בַּחֶרֶב - lēʾmōr ʾim-ʾamîtḵā baḥerev): The explicit terms of David's oath were a promise not to execute Shimei by the sword. This specific wording left room for other forms of judgment or eventual death if Shimei acted out again or if circumstances changed. David bound himself not to execute him personally, nor by a particular method, but did not guarantee Shimei eternal impunity.

Words-group analysis:

• "thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim": This group identifies the individual in question with precision, linking him to his contentious tribal background (Benjamin), his family, and his place of residence, all factors that would immediately signal his problematic nature to Solomon.
• "which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim": This highlights the depth of Shimei's offense, emphasizing the severity ("grievous curse") and the specific, vulnerable context ("when I went to Mahanaim") of David's lowest point. This underscores the true nature of Shimei's disloyalty.
• "but he came down with me to Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword": This part clarifies David's commitment to his oath. It details Shimei's tactical act of seeking pardon and specifies the precise, limited nature of David's promise. David’s faithfulness to his sacred vow, even to one who hated him, is underscored.

1 Kings 2 8 Commentary

In this vital part of his last will, David passes on the unfinished business of consolidating his kingdom to Solomon. His instruction regarding Shimei is not an act of simple vengeance, but a strategic measure for the stability and security of the Davidic throne. David himself honored his oath by not killing Shimei upon his return or at any point thereafter. However, David’s promise was specific—not to put Shimei to death with the sword. This left Solomon scope to exercise wisdom. Shimei, being a member of King Saul's family and displaying such profound hatred for David, represented a lingering potential for rebellion or discord among disaffected elements in Israel. For Solomon to establish his reign securely and justly, he needed to neutralize such threats. David’s wisdom, therefore, is seen in his personal adherence to his oath while entrusting Solomon with the full exercise of justice to ensure the safety and unity of the kingdom.

Bonus SectionDavid's command to Solomon in this verse (and 1 Kings 2:9) serves as a prophetic utterance regarding Shimei's eventual demise. Although David specifically bound himself not to kill Shimei by the sword, he shrewdly and righteously delegated to Solomon, a "man of wisdom," the task of handling Shimei in a manner consistent with securing the throne. Solomon indeed fulfills this by first placing Shimei under house arrest (1 Kings 2:36-37) – an act that respects the letter of David's oath by not directly "putting him to death with the sword." When Shimei violated his oath to Solomon by leaving Jerusalem, Solomon then had rightful cause to execute him (1 Kings 2:38-46). This complex situation demonstrates not only God's providential working through human wisdom and justice to establish the Davidic dynasty, but also how an oath made before the Lord holds significant weight and how a leader must balance justice, mercy, and the security of the kingdom. It illustrates that consequences for past treachery can ultimately be faced, even if immediate execution is withheld.