1 Kings 2:8

6 So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

7 But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

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.’

9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.’
KJV
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.
WEB
“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 the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’
ASV
And, behold, there is with thee 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 sware to him by Jehovah, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
DARBY
And behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day that I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Jehovah saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
BLB
And behold, with you [is] Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim. And he cursed me with a bitter curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. And he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by YHWH, saying, ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’
ÅB
Så har du og benjaminitten Sime'i fra Bahurim, sønn av Gera, hos deg; det var han som bante meg så stygt den dag jeg dro til Mahana'im; men siden kom han meg i møte ned til Jordan, og jeg tilsvor ham ved Herren og sa: Jeg skal ikke la deg dø for sverdet.
OTB
Og se, du har hos deg Sjimi, Geras sønn, en benjaminit fra Bahurim, som forbannet meg med en hard forbannelse den dagen jeg dro til Mahanaim. Men da han kom ned for å møte meg ved Jordan, sverget jeg til ham ved Herren og sa: ‘Jeg vil ikke drepe deg med sverdet.’
B1930
Så har du og benjaminitten Sime'i fra Bahurim, sønn av Gera, hos dig; det var han som bante mig så stygt den dag jeg drog til Mahana'im; men siden kom han mig i møte ned til Jordan, og jeg tilsvor ham ved Herren og sa: Jeg skal ikke la dig dø for sverdet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 16:5–8

    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.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 4:2

    and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 2:36–46

    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.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 19:16–23

    Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,

    Read in context