2 Samuel 16:13 kjv
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
2 Samuel 16:13 nkjv
And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.
2 Samuel 16:13 niv
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.
2 Samuel 16:13 esv
So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.
2 Samuel 16:13 nlt
So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.
2 Samuel 16 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 12:11 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own house..." | Nathan's prophecy of internal strife & public shame. |
| 2 Sam 15:30 | "But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went..." | David's humiliation and sorrow during his flight. |
| 2 Sam 16:11 | Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life..." | David's acceptance of suffering from divine permission. |
| 2 Sam 16:12 | "Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and repay me with good for his cursing today." | David's hope for divine favor amidst his affliction. |
| Ps 7:4-5 | "if I have dealt treacherously with my enemies or plundered him who without cause was my foe, let the enemy pursue my soul..." | Prayer indicating a king's recognition of deserving evil if sin exists. |
| Ps 35:15-16 | "But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered... With mockers at a feast they gnashed at me with their teeth." | Depicts suffering due to enemies' mockery and malice. |
| Ps 38:2-4 | "For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me... no soundness in my bones because of my sin." | Connects suffering and affliction to personal sin. |
| Ps 69:7 | "For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face." | Bearing reproach and dishonor for the Lord. |
| Ps 69:26 | "For they persecute him whom you have struck, and they add to the pain of those you have wounded." | Adversaries adding to the suffering of those afflicted by God. |
| Ps 89:30-32 | "If his sons forsake my law... then I will punish their transgression with the rod..." | God's promised discipline for His covenant people's sin. |
| Job 30:10 | "They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not refrain from spitting at me." | Extreme public contempt and humiliation, including spitting. |
| Prov 3:11-12 | "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof... for the LORD reproves him whom he loves." | Understanding discipline as a sign of God's love. |
| Isa 50:6 | "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant enduring extreme humiliation. |
| Isa 53:3 | "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief..." | Description of Christ's rejection and suffering. |
| Matt 5:11-12 | "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake." | Blessing upon those who endure persecution and revilement. |
| Matt 27:39-44 | "And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads... the chief priests... mocked him..." | Jesus enduring verbal mockery and physical scorn at the cross. |
| Luke 6:22-23 | "Blessed are you when people hate you... for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day..." | Instruction to rejoice when hated for following Christ. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Counsel against retaliation, trusting God for vengeance. |
| Rom 12:21 | "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." | Principle of responding to evil with good. |
| Heb 12:5-6 | "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord... For the Lord disciplines the one he loves..." | Emphasizes divine discipline as proof of love and for spiritual growth. |
| 1 Pet 2:20-23 | "For to this you have been called... Christ also suffered for you... When he was reviled, he did not revile in return..." | Christ's example of suffering unjustly without retaliation. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-14 | "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial... but rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings..." | Suffering for Christ's name is a privilege and a blessing. |
2 Samuel 16 verses
2 Samuel 16 13 Meaning
David, fleeing from Absalom, was journeying on foot with his loyal companions when Shimei, a relative of King Saul, purposefully walked parallel to them on a nearby hillside. From this elevated, safe position, Shimei continuously and loudly cursed David. Simultaneously, he hurled stones and flung dust toward the king, displaying extreme public contempt and animosity. David's journey continued despite this humiliation, as he endured the insults and physical assaults without retaliation.
2 Samuel 16 13 Context
2 Samuel 16:13 occurs during a critical and deeply humiliating period in King David's life. His son, Absalom, has successfully instigated a rebellion against him, forcing David to flee Jerusalem with his loyal entourage. This flight is not merely a strategic retreat but a somber procession of lament and grief, acknowledged by David himself as a potential fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy concerning the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 12:11-12). Shimei, a descendant of Saul and part of the Benjamite clan, seizes this opportunity to express his deep-seated hatred and resentment towards David, likely holding him responsible for the downfall of Saul's house. David's immediate response to Shimei's assault, as seen in the preceding verses (2 Sam 16:10-12), reveals his mindset: he perceives Shimei's actions as divinely permitted, perhaps even directed, to humble him and is willing to endure the affliction as God's will.
2 Samuel 16 13 Word analysis
- "So David and his men": Identifies the primary subjects, emphasizing a collective, ongoing journey. This group is the target of Shimei's wrath.
- "went on the road": The Hebrew "halakh ba-derekh" (הָלַךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ) implies a continuous progression, a journey. It underscores David's vulnerability as he is openly moving in public view. The use of "road" (derekh) suggests a common path, making the insults public.
- "while Shimei went along": The parallel motion emphasizes Shimei's deliberate and sustained harassment. He is not merely observing but actively following with malicious intent.
- "on the hillside opposite him": Hebrew "al tzel-ha-har l'umato" (עַל צֶלַע הָהָר לְעֻמָּתוֹ). "Tzela" (צֵלָע) denotes a side or rib, here implying a slope or side of a mountain. "L'umato" (לְעֻמָּתוֹ) means "opposite him" or "facing him." This strategic positioning allowed Shimei to maintain a distance, avoiding direct confrontation with David's armed men while still being clearly seen and heard. It also suggests a degree of cowardly boldness, cursing from a place of relative safety.
- "and cursed as he went": The Hebrew "vayiqalel ba-lekhto" (וַיְקַלֵּל בְּלֶכְתּוֹ) uses the root "qalal" (קָלַל), meaning "to curse, revile, despise." The form indicates a continuous, ongoing action – he was not just uttering one curse, but repeatedly doing so while moving. This verbal assault was deliberate, public, and persistent.
- "and threw stones at him": The Hebrew "vayissaq ba-avanim" (וַיְסַק בָּאֲבָנִים) uses a verb root similar to "sarak" (זָרַק - to scatter, throw). This action is a direct physical assault, signifying extreme contempt, rejection, and a wish for harm or death. Public stoning was a method of execution, so throwing stones implied a symbolic act of wishing David dead or of considering him an outcast worthy of such a fate.
- "and flung dust": The Hebrew "ve-ibeq afar" (וְאִבֵּק עָפָר). "Aphar" (עָפָר) is dust or dry earth. Flinging dust was an ancient gesture of extreme contempt, often associated with cursing someone, wishing their destruction, or declaring them utterly worthless. It could symbolize casting someone's memory to the dust, rejection, or even the desire for their symbolic "burial" in disgrace. This was a profoundly defiling and humiliating act.
- "cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust": This combination of actions represents a full-spectrum assault – verbal, physical, and symbolic – designed to inflict maximum public degradation and emotional distress upon David. The repeated nature ("as he went") highlights the prolonged and relentless nature of the abuse.
2 Samuel 16 13 Bonus section
The passive endurance displayed by David in this scene (by allowing the abuse to continue despite Abishai's readiness to retaliate) carries significant theological weight. It demonstrates a king deeply aware of his own sin and the potential for God's judgment to be mediated through human means. This understanding of divine sovereignty amidst personal affliction distinguishes David's character at this point in his life. The public humiliation and apparent vulnerability serve as a counter-narrative to earthly power and self-vindication, highlighting the spiritual strength found in submission to God's will. This acceptance of suffering is a critical theme, reflecting a maturity born from conviction of sin and reliance on God's ultimate justice, which resonates deeply with the experiences of other biblical figures like Job.
2 Samuel 16 13 Commentary
2 Samuel 16:13 portrays a profound moment of humility and suffering for King David. Far from the glorious king, he is now an exposed and fleeing figure, enduring direct verbal and physical abuse from a man motivated by sectarian hatred and opportunistic vengeance. David's earlier acceptance of this ordeal as God's permission, even God's sending, elevates the scene beyond mere human conflict. It becomes a vivid illustration of divine discipline and the path to spiritual renewal through humility. Shimei, while acting out of his own malicious will, unwittingly serves as an instrument in God's purifying work upon David. The actions of cursing, throwing stones, and flinging dust were not random acts but ancient symbols of extreme contempt, a public pronouncement of worthlessness and condemnation. This moment prefigures the Suffering Servant, Christ Himself, who also endured unjust ridicule and physical assault without retaliation, setting a perfect example of patiently entrusting oneself to the one who judges justly (1 Pet 2:23).