Shimei שִׁמְעִי
Benjamite who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion.
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
"When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came."
- 2 Samuel 16:7
"Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!"
- 2 Samuel 16:13
"So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust."
- 2 Samuel 19:16
"Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David."
- 2 Samuel 19:18
"A ferry boat went to bring over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he had come over the Jordan."
1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 2:8
"“Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’"
- 1 Kings 2:36
"The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don’t go anywhere else."
- 1 Kings 2:38
"Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days."
- 1 Kings 2:39
"At the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your slaves are in Gath.”"
- 1 Kings 2:40
"Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his slaves; and Shimei went, and brought his slaves from Gath."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעִי | H8096H |