2 Samuel 19 21

2 Samuel 19:21 kjv

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?

2 Samuel 19:21 nkjv

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?"

2 Samuel 19:21 niv

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed."

2 Samuel 19:21 esv

Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?"

2 Samuel 19:21 nlt

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shimei should die, for he cursed the LORD's anointed king!"

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 21 Meaning

2 Samuel 19:21 records Abishai's indignant reaction to Shimei seeking forgiveness from King David. Abishai asserts that Shimei deserves death because he had "cursed the Lord's anointed" (David), thus committing an act considered to be against God's chosen king and, by extension, against God Himself. This verse highlights the tension between immediate justice, demanded by Abishai's zeal, and the greater reconciliation and mercy that David sought to embody as he re-established his reign after Absalom's rebellion.

2 Samuel 19 21 Context

Following Absalom's failed rebellion, King David is returning to Jerusalem. This is a time of both judgment and reconciliation. As David approaches, various individuals who had supported or opposed him during the rebellion come out to meet him. Among them is Shimei, a Benjamite from the house of Saul, who had previously cursed David viciously during his flight from Absalom (2 Sam 16:5-8). Shimei prostrates himself before David, begging for mercy. Abishai, one of David's fiercely loyal but often ruthless commanders and nephew (son of Zeruiah, David's sister), reacts strongly, viewing Shimei's past act as an unforgivable offense worthy of immediate death. David's response to Abishai and Shimei in the following verses (2 Sam 19:22-23) sets a tone of restorative justice for his re-established reign.

2 Samuel 19 21 Word analysis

• But Abishai son of Zeruiah: Abishai (אֲבִישַׁי - Abishay, "my father is Jesse" or "my father is a gift") is consistently portrayed as impulsive, fiercely loyal, and ready to employ violence, especially when defending David or prosecuting perceived enemies. He, along with his brothers Joab and Asahel, are sons of Zeruiah, David's sister. His character underscores a recurring tension in David's reign: the sometimes brutal necessities of warfare and governance contrasting with David's own heart and God's call for mercy.

• said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this,

  • Shimei (שִׁמְעִי - Shim'i): A Benjamite from the clan of Saul's family. His animosity towards David stemmed from the transfer of the kingship from Saul's house to David, reflecting tribal and political loyalties.
  • be put to death (יוּמַת - yumat): From the root מות (mut) meaning "to die," in the Hophal stem, implying a passive "to be caused to die" or "be executed." This is a definitive and legal pronouncement of judgment, indicating that, in Abishai's view, Shimei's action warrants capital punishment under God's law for rebellion or blasphemy.
  • for this: Refers directly to Shimei's act of cursing King David (recorded in 2 Sam 16:5-8) and perhaps also to his continued opposition to David's return, implying a continuing offense or unforgiven sin.

• because he cursed the Lord's anointed?"

  • because he cursed (כִּי קִלֵּל - ki qillel):
    • cursed (קִלֵּל - qillel): From the root קלל (qalal), meaning "to be slight, trifling," in the Piel stem it means "to curse, revile, utter a curse against, treat with contempt." This isn't merely speaking ill but involves severe disrespect, perhaps wishing evil upon, or blaspheming against, indicating a serious offense, particularly when directed at one appointed by God.
  • the Lord's anointed (מְשִׁיחַ יְהוָה - meshiach YHWH):
    • Lord's (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His ultimate sovereignty and choice.
    • anointed (מְשִׁיחַ - meshiach): The Hebrew term is "Messiah," meaning "anointed one." In the Old Testament, kings (like Saul and David), priests, and sometimes prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of their divine appointment and consecration for a specific task. To curse the "Lord's anointed" was to challenge God's direct appointment and authority, treating David as a mere mortal rather than God's chosen instrument. This phrase signifies a sacred status for the king, elevating an affront to him beyond personal insult to an act against God himself. This concept laid the foundation for the ultimate "Anointed One," the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. An offense against the Messiah, therefore, carries infinite spiritual weight.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Abishai son of Zeruiah said...": Highlights Abishai's consistent role as the voice of violent zeal and unhesitating retribution, a foil to David's sometimes more cautious or merciful disposition.
  • "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this...?": A rhetorical question expressing a firm conviction that capital punishment is the only just outcome, reflecting a retributive understanding of justice that does not allow for pardon for such an offense.
  • "because he cursed the Lord's anointed": This phrase reveals the gravity of Shimei's offense from Abishai's perspective. It transforms a personal slight against the king into a direct assault on the divine choice and authority, warranting the severest punishment. It ties earthly kingship to divine ordination.

2 Samuel 19 21 Bonus section

• The term "Lord's anointed" in this context points forward to the ultimate "Anointed One," Jesus Christ. As David was chosen by God, so too was Jesus set apart and commissioned by the Father to be King and Messiah. Offenses against His representatives (His anointed, His church, His teachings) are often viewed seriously in scripture.
• Abishai's zealous response highlights a human tendency towards immediate, uncompromising justice, often contrasting with God's patience and desire for redemption or His sovereign right to dispense mercy. This contrasts with David's own previous refusal to harm King Saul, also the "Lord's anointed," despite having valid opportunities (1 Sam 24:6, 1 Sam 26:9-11). This difference underscores David's unique character as a "man after God's own heart."
• This scene illustrates a crucial leadership moment for David. His decision to show mercy to Shimei (at this point, though Shimei would later face judgment from Solomon, 1 Kgs 2:8-9, 44-46) established his authority not merely through power, but through an act of magnanimity and spiritual vision in a time of fragile reconciliation. This decision prevented a cycle of vendetta and civil unrest after the rebellion.

2 Samuel 19 21 Commentary

Abishai's demand for Shimei's execution reflects a zealous understanding of justice, where defiance of the "Lord's anointed" is tantamount to defying God Himself and demands immediate, retributive capital punishment. His perspective is rooted in a covenantal understanding where violating sacred boundaries and God-ordained authority has severe consequences, a view supported by elements of the Mosaic Law concerning blasphemy and contempt for authority (Ex 22:28; Lev 24:16). The use of "Lord's anointed" emphasizes David's sacred status as God's chosen king, not just a secular ruler. Abishai sees Shimei's action as an assault on God's established order and David's divine right to rule, thus necessitating judgment to uphold the sanctity of God's covenant and the king's legitimacy. However, David's response in the subsequent verses reveals a higher form of justice—one imbued with mercy and focused on re-establishing a unified kingdom under grace rather than immediate vengeance. David understood the greater spiritual significance of the moment: the beginning of a new chapter of peace and reconciliation, a king's prerogative to extend grace, echoing God's own attribute of being "abundant in steadfast love." This tension between fierce retribution and sovereign mercy is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, ultimately pointing to Christ, who, though deserving of justice against all who defied God, offered reconciliation through His anointing.