Shimei
The Benjamite Who Cursed David
Shimei was a man from the tribe of Benjamin and of Saul's family. He is best known for cursing and throwing stones at King David when he fled from Absalom, and later being executed by Solomon for breaking his oath to stay in Jerusalem.
Family
Key events
Curses David During His Flight
When David fled from Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, Shimei came out, cursed him, threw stones, and called him a man of bloodshed and a troublemaker.
5As King David approached Bahurim, a man came out from there, from the clan of the house of Saul. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out cursing as he went.
וּבָ֛א הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד עַד־בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִשָּׁם֩ אִ֨ישׁ יוֹצֵ֜א מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת בֵּית־שָׁא֗וּל וּשְׁמוֹ֙ שִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן־גֵּרָ֔א יֹצֵ֥א יָצ֖וֹא וּמְקַלֵּֽל׃
6He pelted David and all King David's servants with stones, though all the troops and all the warriors were on his right and on his left.
וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וְאֶת־כָּל־עַבְדֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וְכָל־הָעָם֙ וְכָל־הַגִּבֹּרִ֔ים מִימִינ֖וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
7This is what Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!
וְכֹֽה־אָמַ֥ר שִׁמְעִ֖י בְּקַֽלְל֑וֹ צֵ֥א צֵ֛א אִ֥ישׁ הַדָּמִ֖ים וְאִ֥ישׁ הַבְּלִיָּֽעַל׃
8The LORD has brought back upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you, because you are a man of blood!"
הֵשִׁיב֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ יְהוָ֜ה כֹּ֣ל ׀ דְּמֵ֣י בֵית־שָׁא֗וּל אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָלַ֙כְתָּ֙ *תחתו **תַּחְתָּ֔יו וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהוָה֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בְּנֶ֑ךָ וְהִנְּךָ֙ בְּרָ֣עָתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ דָּמִ֖ים אָֽתָּה׃
9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֣מָּה יְקַלֵּ֞ל הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַמֵּת֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֖א וְאָסִ֥ירָה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ ס
10But the king said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, for the LORD has told him, 'Curse David.' Who then can ask, 'Why have you done this?'"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לִּ֥י וְלָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י צְרֻיָ֑ה *כי **כֹּ֣ה יְקַלֵּ֗ל *וכי **כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָ֤מַר לוֹ֙ קַלֵּ֣ל אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וּמִ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ עָשִׂ֥יתָה כֵּֽן׃ ס
11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, is seeking my life. How much more, then, this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁי֙ וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הִנֵּ֥ה בְנִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥א מִמֵּעַ֖י מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאַ֨ף כִּֽי־עַתָּ֜ה בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֗י הַנִּ֤חוּ לוֹ֙ וִֽיקַלֵּ֔ל כִּ֥י אָֽמַר־ל֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃
12Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today."
אוּלַ֛י יִרְאֶ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה *בעוני **בְּעֵינִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֨יב יְהוָ֥ה לִי֙ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת קִלְלָת֖וֹ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
13So David and his men went on their way, while Shimei kept pace with him along the hillside opposite, cursing as he went, throwing stones at him and flinging dust.
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ ס וְשִׁמְעִ֡י הֹלֵךְ֩ בְּצֵ֨לַע הָהָ֜ר לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ הָלוֹךְ֙ וַיְקַלֵּ֔ל וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ וְעִפַּ֖ר בֶּעָפָֽר׃ פ
David Refuses Revenge
Abishai wanted to kill Shimei for his curses, but David refused and said that perhaps the Lord had commanded Shimei to curse him.
9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֣מָּה יְקַלֵּ֞ל הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַמֵּת֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֖א וְאָסִ֥ירָה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ ס
10But the king said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, for the LORD has told him, 'Curse David.' Who then can ask, 'Why have you done this?'"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לִּ֥י וְלָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י צְרֻיָ֑ה *כי **כֹּ֣ה יְקַלֵּ֗ל *וכי **כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָ֤מַר לוֹ֙ קַלֵּ֣ל אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וּמִ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ עָשִׂ֥יתָה כֵּֽן׃ ס
11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, is seeking my life. How much more, then, this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁי֙ וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הִנֵּ֥ה בְנִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥א מִמֵּעַ֖י מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאַ֨ף כִּֽי־עַתָּ֜ה בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֗י הַנִּ֤חוּ לוֹ֙ וִֽיקַלֵּ֔ל כִּ֥י אָֽמַר־ל֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃
12Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today."
אוּלַ֛י יִרְאֶ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה *בעוני **בְּעֵינִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֨יב יְהוָ֥ה לִי֙ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת קִלְלָת֖וֹ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
Asks David for Forgiveness
After Absalom's defeat, Shimei quickly came to meet David at the Jordan and begged forgiveness for his curses. David swore that he would not kill him.
16So the king set out on his return and came to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan.
וַיָּ֣שָׁב הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּבֹ֖א עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וִיהוּדָ֞ה בָּ֣א הַגִּלְגָּ֗לָה לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ לִקְרַ֣את הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהַעֲבִ֥יר אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
17Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
וַיְמַהֵ֗ר שִׁמְעִ֤י בֶן־גֵּרָא֙ בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִבַּֽחוּרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ עִם־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה לִקְרַ֖את הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִֽד׃
18With him were a thousand men from Benjamin, and Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king
וְאֶ֨לֶף אִ֣ישׁ עִמּוֹ֮ מִבִּנְיָמִן֒ וְצִיבָ֗א נַ֚עַר בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔[t]וּל וַחֲמֵ֨שֶׁת עָשָׂ֥ר בָּנָ֛יו וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים עֲבָדָ֖יו אִתּ֑וֹ וְצָלְח֥וּ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
19and crossed at the ford to bring the king's household over and to do whatever he thought best. Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan
וְעָבְרָ֣ה הָעֲבָרָ֗ה לַֽעֲבִיר֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הַטּ֖וֹב *בעינו **בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְשִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן־גֵּרָ֗א נָפַל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעָבְר֖וֹ בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
20and said to him, "Let my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; may the king not take it to heart.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אַל־יַחֲשָׁב־לִ֣י אֲדֹנִי֮ עָוֺן֒ וְאַל־תִּזְכֹּ֗ר אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱוָ֣ה עַבְדְּךָ֔ בַּיּ֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יָׄצָ֥ׄאׄ[4] אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִירֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לָשׂ֥וּם הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃
21For your servant knows that I have sinned. But see, today I have come, the first of all the house of Joseph, to come down and meet my lord the king."
כִּ֚י יָדַ֣ע עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י חָטָ֑אתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־בָ֣אתִי הַיּ֗וֹם רִאשׁוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף לָרֶ֕דֶת לִקְרַ֖את אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
22Then Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up: "Should Shimei not be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed!"
וַיַּ֨עַן אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲתַ֣חַת זֹ֔את לֹ֥א יוּמַ֖ת שִׁמְעִ֑י כִּ֥י קִלֵּ֖ל אֶת־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָֽה׃ ס
23But David said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should turn against me today? Shall a single man be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד מַה־לִּ֤י וְלָכֶם֙ בְּנֵ֣י צְרוּיָ֔ה כִּי־תִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם לְשָׂטָ֑ן הַיּ֗וֹם י֤וּמַת אִישׁ֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֚י הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם אֲנִי־מֶ֥לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
David's Instructions to Solomon
On his deathbed, David instructed his son Solomon not to let Shimei's gray hair go down to Sheol in peace, but to show wisdom in how he dealt with him.
8And there is with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim. He cursed me with a bitter curse the day I went to Mahanaim. But 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.'
וְהִנֵּ֣ה עִ֠מְּךָ שִֽׁמְעִ֨י בֶן־גֵּרָ֥א בֶן־הַיְמִינִי֮ מִבַּחֻרִים֒ וְה֤וּא קִֽלְלַ֙נִי֙ קְלָלָ֣ה נִמְרֶ֔צֶת בְּי֖וֹם לֶכְתִּ֣י מַחֲנָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־יָרַ֤ד לִקְרָאתִי֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֤וֹ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֲמִֽיתְךָ֖ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃
9Now do not let him go unpunished. You are a wise man; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood."
וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל׃
Ordered to Stay in Jerusalem
Solomon summoned Shimei and commanded him to build a house in Jerusalem and never leave the city. If he crossed the Kidron Valley, he would die. Shimei accepted the conditions.
36Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there; do not go out from there to anywhere at all.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֔י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ בְּֽנֵה־לְךָ֥ בַ֙יִת֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ שָׁ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תֵצֵ֥א מִשָּׁ֖ם אָ֥נֶה וָאָֽנָה׃
37On the day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for certain that you will die; your blood will be on your own head."
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְעָֽבַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־נַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת דָּמְךָ֖ יִהְיֶ֥ה בְרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃
38Shimei answered the king, "The sentence is fair. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." And Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שִׁמְעִ֤י לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ ט֣וֹב הַדָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב שִׁמְעִ֛י בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ ס
Executed by Solomon
After three years, Shimei left Jerusalem to retrieve his escaped slaves from Gath. When Solomon learned of this, he had Benaiah execute Shimei for breaking his oath.
39But at the end of three years, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath."
וַיְהִ֗י מִקֵּץ֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וַיִּבְרְח֤וּ שְׁנֵֽי־עֲבָדִים֙ לְשִׁמְעִ֔י אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ גַּ֑ת וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לְשִׁמְעִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּגַֽת׃
40So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves; he went and brought them back from Gath.
וַיָּ֣קָם שִׁמְעִ֗י וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ אֶת־חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ גַּ֙תָה֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְעִ֔י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו מִגַּֽת׃
41When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,
וַיֻּגַּ֖ד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה כִּי־הָלַ֨ךְ שִׁמְעִ֧י מִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם גַּ֖ת וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃
42the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, 'On the day you leave and go anywhere at all, know for certain that you will die'? And you said to me, 'The sentence is fair; I will obey.'
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֗י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲל֧וֹא הִשְׁבַּעְתִּ֣יךָ בַֽיהוָ֗ה וָאָעִ֤ד בְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אָ֣נֶה וָאָ֔נָה יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלַ֛י ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָ֖ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃
43Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command I laid on you?"
וּמַדּ֕וּעַ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ אֵ֖ת שְׁבֻעַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶת־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּ֥יתִי עָלֶֽיךָ׃
44The king also said to Shimei, "You know—your own heart knows—all the evil you did to my father David. So the LORD will bring your evil back on your own head.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־שִׁמְעִ֗י אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָדַע֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ לְדָוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֧יב יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־רָעָתְךָ֖ בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃
45But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will be established before the LORD forever."
וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בָּר֑וּךְ וְכִסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֛וֹן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
46Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was firmly established in Solomon's hand.
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיֵּצֵ֕א וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה נָכ֖וֹנָה בְּיַד־שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃