2 Samuel 16:11
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
10 But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
12 Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
- KJV
- And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
- WEB
- David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.
- ASV
- And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him.
- DARBY
- And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth of my bowels, seeks my life: how much more now a Benjaminite? let him alone and let him curse; for Jehovah has bidden him.
- BLB
- And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, is seeking my life. And how much more that now [this] Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse, for so YHWH has ordered him.
- ÅB
- Og David sa til Abisai og til alle sine tjenere: Se, min sønn, som er utgått av mitt liv, står meg etter livet; hvor meget mere ikke da denne benjaminitt! La ham bare banne! For Herren har befalt ham det.
- OTB
- Da sa David til Abisjai og til alle sine tjenere, "Se, min egen sønn, som kom fra min kropp, søker mitt liv; hvor mye mer nå denne benjaminitten? La ham være i fred og la ham forbanne, for Herren har sagt det til ham.
- B1930
- Og David sa til Abisai og til alle sine tjenere: Se, min sønn, som er utgått av mitt liv, står mig efter livet; hvor meget mere ikke da denne benjaminitt! La ham bare banne! For Herren har befalt ham det.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Chronicles 32:21
and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.
Read in contextEzekiel 20:25
I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.
Read in contextEzekiel 14:9
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
Read in contextIsaiah 10:5–7
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.
Read in context2 Samuel 12:11–12
This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.
Read in contextGenesis 45:5
And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
Read in contextGenesis 15:4
Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
Read in context2 Kings 19:37
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
Read in context