📖 Biblical Definition
Benjamite of Saul's house who cursed and threw stones at David as he fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 16:5-13). David refused to let Abishai kill him: "let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him." After Absalom's defeat, Shimei begged forgiveness; David spared him during his own life. On his deathbed David instructed Solomon to deal with Shimei; Solomon confined him to Jerusalem; Shimei broke the confinement and was executed.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Cursed David in Absalom's rebellion; spared by David; killed by Solomon.
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Benjamite from Saul's clan who cursed David and threw stones at him as the king fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 16:5-13). David's response is one of the great moments of restraint: "let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him... it may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and... requite me good for his cursing this day." After Absalom's death, Shimei groveled in apology; David swore not to put him to death. On David's own deathbed, however, he instructed Solomon to deal with Shimei wisely. Solomon confined Shimei to Jerusalem on pain of death; Shimei eventually broke the confinement to retrieve runaway slaves and was executed.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Samuel 16:5-7 — "And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei... and he cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David."
2 Samuel 16:11-12 — "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. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day."
1 Kings 2:8-9 — "Hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
David's restraint with Shimei often praised; David's deathbed instruction to Solomon less so. The full arc shows the tension between mercy now and justice eventually.
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David's response in 2 Sam 16 is one of the great moments of submission to providence: he absorbs the curse rather than retaliating. But David's deathbed instruction to Solomon kept the long-term door open: Solomon dealt with Shimei wisely. The tension between immediate mercy and long-term accountability is real.
Recover the both-and: in the moment, restraint and trust in God. Across the years, accountability still applies. David didn't have Shimei killed in his rage; Solomon executed him for breaking the later condition. Both stages were just.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Shimi.
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['Hebrew', 'H8096', 'Shimi', 'Shimei']
Usage
"Let him curse; the LORD hath bidden him."
"Restraint in the moment; accountability across years."
"David and Solomon together honored both."