Shimei שִׁמְעִי
Benjamite who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion.
Who is Shimei in the Bible?
Shimei was a Benjamite from the family of Saul who cursed King David during Absalom's rebellion, throwing stones at him and accusing him of being a murderer as the king fled Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:5-13). After Absalom's defeat, Shimei sought David's forgiveness at the Jordan River, and though David initially spared his life, the king later instructed his son Solomon to execute justice against him (2 Samuel 19:16-23, 1 Kings 2:8-9). Solomon confined Shimei to Jerusalem under penalty of death if he left the city (1 Kings 2:36-38), but when Shimei eventually violated this restriction by pursuing escaped servants, Solomon had him executed (1 Kings 2:39-46). Shimei's story illustrates the tension between mercy and justice in David's reign and demonstrates the consequences of disloyalty and broken covenant.
Biography
Shimei was a Benjamite from the family of Saul who encountered King David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sa. 16:5). As David fled Jerusalem, Shimei cursed him, threw stones at him, and accused him of being a murderer and a wicked man (2 Sa. 16:7, 13). After Absalom's defeat, Shimei met David at the Jordan River, seeking forgiveness for his actions (2 Sa. 19:16, 18). Although Abishai, one of David's men, wanted to kill Shimei, David spared his life (2 Sa. 19:21, 23). However, on his deathbed, David instructed his son Solomon to deal with Shimei, suggesting that he should not be left unpunished (1 Ki. 2:8-9). Solomon later confined Shimei to Jerusalem and warned him that leaving the city would result in his death, a condition Shimei initially accepted (1 Ki. 2:36-38). However, when Shimei violated this agreement by leaving Jerusalem to retrieve his runaway servants, Solomon ordered his execution (1 Ki. 2:39-46).
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 16:5
"As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses."
- 2 Samuel 16:7
"And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!"
- 2 Samuel 16:13
"So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David."
- 2 Samuel 19:16
"Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,"
- 2 Samuel 19:18
"and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king"
1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 2:8
"Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on 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 never put you to the sword.’"
- 1 Kings 2:36
"Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else."
- 1 Kings 2:38
"“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time."
- 1 Kings 2:39
"After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”"
- 1 Kings 2:40
"So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעִי | Shimi , the name of twenty Israelites |