1 Kings 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David recalls Shimei, who cursed him in his flight but later sought pardon, to whom David had sworn not to kill him personally.
What Does 1 Kings 2:8 Mean?
David's third case is Shimei, a man of Benjamin who had cursed him bitterly as he fled from Absalom in his lowest hour. Later, when David returned in triumph, Shimei came begging, and David swore by the LORD not to put him to death with the sword. The oath bound David himself, but it left the matter unresolved.
Here is a tangle of honor, oath, and old injury. David had kept his word and spared Shimei, yet the wound and the unsettled threat remained. The verse shows a king wrestling honestly with promises made and grudges held, handing his son a situation that will require both faithfulness to the oath's letter and careful judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 2:8
What does 1 Kings 2:8 mean?
David recalls Shimei, who cursed him in his flight but later sought pardon, to whom David had sworn not to kill him personally.