2 Samuel 19:16 kjv
And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
2 Samuel 19:16 nkjv
And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
2 Samuel 19:16 niv
Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
2 Samuel 19:16 esv
And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
2 Samuel 19:16 nlt
Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.
2 Samuel 19 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 16:5-13 | When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei... | The detailed account of Shimei's original curse and stone-throwing at David. |
| 2 Sam 19:17-23 | And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan... | Shimei's specific plea for forgiveness directly after this verse. |
| 1 Kgs 2:8-9 | There is also with you Shimei... you know what he did to me when he cursed me with a grievous curse... | David's deathbed charge to Solomon regarding Shimei, confirming the severity of the curse. |
| 1 Kgs 2:36-46 | Solomon sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there... " | Solomon's delayed but definitive justice upon Shimei. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. | Principle of consequences, as Shimei threw stones at David. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Spiritual law of sowing and reaping applied to actions like Shimei's. |
| Ps 7:16 | His mischief returns upon his own head; and his violence comes down on his own scalp. | Reiteration of retribution for malice, echoing Shimei's eventual fate. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God... | David's initial forbearance (2 Sam 16:10-12) aligns with divine principle of vengeance. |
| 1 Sam 24:1-15 | Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. | David's refusal to harm the Lord's anointed, contrasting Shimei's defiance. |
| 2 Sam 1:14-16 | David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" | David's judgment on one claiming to kill Saul, showing regard for anointed authority. |
| Lev 24:15-16 | Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin... anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. | Laws regarding the severity of curses, reflecting the gravity of Shimei's act. |
| Num 24:9 | "Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you." | Divine protection promised to Israel's leaders and their curse's reverse effect. |
| Judg 9:56-57 | Thus God repaid the evil of Abimelech... and God repaid all the evil of the men of Shechem... | God's justice ultimately catches up with the wicked. |
| Job 27:7 | May my enemy be as the wicked, and my adversary as the unrighteous. | The expected fate of those who persecute the innocent. |
| Matt 5:44 | "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." | New Testament principle of radical forgiveness that David prefigured in 2 Sam 16. |
| 1 Pet 3:9 | Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called... | New Testament teaching against retaliation, exemplified by David's patience. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret... | Theological distinction between true repentance (godly grief) and mere regret or opportunism. |
| Isa 54:17 | No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. | Assurance of divine protection for God's chosen despite verbal attacks. |
| Ps 109:17-18 | He loved to pronounce curses—may curses come on him... | A prayer or statement reflecting the desire for poetic justice upon those who curse. |
| Eccl 8:11 | Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. | Justice, though sometimes delayed (as with Shimei's eventual death), often occurs. |
2 Samuel 19 verses
2 Samuel 19 16 Meaning
This verse recounts the swift action of Shimei, a Benjaminite from Bahurim, the same individual who had earlier pronounced a severe curse upon King David during his desperate flight from Absalom's rebellion. Now, following Absalom's defeat and David's impending return to Jerusalem, Shimei hurriedly descends and joins the men of Judah, actively participating in the welcome for the returning monarch. This sudden appearance marks a dramatic shift from his former hostility to an apparent act of seeking pardon and reconciliation.
2 Samuel 19 16 Context
This verse immediately follows David's successful defeat of Absalom's rebellion and his journey back to Jerusalem. Absalom's usurpation had forced David into exile and humiliation. As David fled, Shimei, a prominent figure from the tribe of Benjamin—the tribe of King Saul—had violently and maliciously cursed David, throwing stones and accusing him of being a "man of blood" (2 Sam 16:5-8). David, demonstrating remarkable humility and faith, refrained from punishing Shimei at that time, seeing the event as potentially permitted by God. Now, with Absalom dead and David's authority restored, the kingdom is in a transitional phase of reunification. David had sent word to the elders of Judah, reminding them of their kinship and urging them to expedite his return (2 Sam 19:11-15). It is in this crucial moment of reconciliation and political realignment that Shimei suddenly appears, actively engaging with David's own tribe, to plead for his life and future under the restored monarchy.
2 Samuel 19 16 Word analysis
- And Shimei: The Hebrew "וְשִׁמְעִי" (vəšim‘î), beginning with the conjunction "And," ties Shimei's action directly to the unfolding narrative of David's return. Shimei's name means "my fame" or "he has heard," a ironic contrast to his infamous acts.
- the son of Gera: Identifies his paternal lineage, establishing him as a known figure and precisely linking him to the prior cursing incident.
- a Benjaminite: (הַבֶּנְיָמִינִי - habbenyamini). This tribal identifier is critical. Benjamin was the tribe of the fallen King Saul, fostering lingering resentment towards David among some within that tribe, making Shimei a clear representative of a hostile faction. His coming signifies a symbolic submission of this faction.
- from Bahurim: (מִבַּחוּרִים - mibaḥurim). This specific locality connects him directly to the deeply humiliating cursing episode described in 2 Samuel 16:5. It serves as an immediate mental flag to the audience, recalling the intensity of his earlier antagonism.
- who had cursed him with a grievous curse: (אֲשֶׁר קִלְלוֹ קְלָלָה נִמְרֶצֶת - ʾasher qil’lō qəlālāh nimreṣet). This phrase is a crucial summary of Shimei's past actions. The Hebrew verb "קִלֵּל" (qil·lēl, "to curse") is intensified by the repetition with the noun "קְלָלָה" (qəlālāh, "a curse"), emphasizing the severe, malicious nature of his verbal assault. "נִמְרֶצֶת" (nimreṣet), meaning "severe," "grievous," or "bitter," further highlights the extreme malice and cruelty Shimei directed at David. This reminds the reader of the immense grace David displayed by not immediately executing him.
- came down quickly: (מִהֵר וַיֵּרֶד - mihēr wayyered). "Quickly" (mihēr) emphasizes the urgency and haste in Shimei's actions, indicative of his fear and opportunism. "Came down" (wayyered) suggests a geographical descent, likely from his Benjaminite homeland towards the Jordan crossing where David was. This portrays his eagerness to be among the first to seek David's favor.
- with the men of Judah: (אִתּוֹ אַנְשֵׁי יְהוּדָה - ittō ʾanšê Yehûdāh). Shimei's choice to appear alongside the men of Judah, David's own tribe, is highly significant. Rather than aligning with his own tribal kin (who follow later), he attempts to associate himself with the group actively working to reinstate the king, hoping for a smoother reception and perhaps for their intercession on his behalf.
- to meet King David: (לִקְרַאת הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד - liqraʾt hammeleḵ Dāwid). "To meet" (לִקְרַאת - liqrat) implies a deliberate act of seeking out or confronting someone, in this case, a formal approach to the newly re-established King David, acknowledging his undisputed authority and attempting to make amends.
2 Samuel 19 16 Bonus section
- Shimei's quick action suggests he had either been strategically watching for the outcome of the rebellion or was genuinely terrified for his life once news of Absalom's defeat reached him. His prior actions placed him in an extremely precarious position as an enemy of the restored king.
- His joining the "men of Judah" hints at a tribal rivalry dynamic. Judah had been slow to respond to David's call (2 Sam 19:11), and David had to goad them. Shimei, an outsider, perhaps aimed to set an example of swift action, hoping to differentiate himself from other slower or less enthusiastic Benjaminites.
- This verse sets the stage for one of David's most notable acts of clemency during his return, though it is one that ultimately has limitations, as shown in 1 Kings 2:8-9, 36-46. This initial grace on David's part highlights his character as the "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22), mirroring divine patience, yet also demonstrates that divine justice, even if delayed, is not entirely abandoned.
2 Samuel 19 16 Commentary
2 Samuel 19:16 offers a snapshot of political shrewdness and human desperation in the face of absolute power. Shimei, once the bold accuser and curser of the fallen king, now emerges with an equally bold display of submission. His haste ("came down quickly") is a calculated move to secure clemency, arriving among the welcoming delegation of Judah rather than waiting to be summoned or caught. The emphasis on his "grievous curse" in the text serves as a powerful recall of his past offenses, intensifying the reader's awareness of the dramatic shift in his demeanor and forcing a consideration of his true motives. While outwardly penitent, Shimei's actions carry the distinct mark of a survivor adapting to changed circumstances, underscoring the complexities of loyalty and self-preservation in times of political upheaval. David's response, rooted in mercy yet tempered by remembrance, sets the stage for future dealings, demonstrating the limits of instant forgiveness for calculated malice.