This verse reminds us that even in times of public humiliation, reliance on God is paramount.
“He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.” (2 Samuel 16:6) In this passage, we learn that a man named Shimei, from the family of the former King Saul, is assaulting and cursing David as David flees from his own son Absalom’s rebellion. David, who reigned as King of Israel from roughly 1010 BC to 970 BC, is in a vulnerable position, traveling with his loyal attendants and troops through the region of Bahurim. Bahurim is located just east of Jerusalem, in the territory originally allotted to the tribe of Benjamin—this area stood on a main route leading toward the Jordan basin. The mention that “all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left” (v.6) indicates David’s traveling entourage formed a protective formation around their king, yet allowed the hostile Shimei to vent his anger in the form of thrown stones.
“He threw stones at David” (v.6) highlights a moment of intense personal humiliation for David, underscoring the reality of his political crisis. Historically, David’s son Absalom had mounted a coup, forcing David from Jerusalem in a sudden, painful evacuation (2 Samuel 15). David remains calm in the face of this insult, believing that perhaps these events serve a greater purpose in God’s plan. David’s relationship with King Saul’s tribe of Benjamin had been precarious since he took the throne, and Shimei’s hostility reflects the deep-seated division that sometimes lingered after Saul’s death. In the broader scriptural storyline, this episode reveals how Israel’s leaders sometimes suffered at the hands of their own people, foreshadowing how Jesus would ultimately be rejected centuries later by those in authority (Luke 23:21).
The account of “He threw stones at David” (v.6) also demonstrates a lesson in trusting God’s sovereignty even when confronted by open hostility. David restrains his men from attacking Shimei (2 Samuel 16:10), showing a spirit of patience and humility. This teaches God’s people to stay faithful in hardships, resembling Christ’s call to love one’s enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Through this humbling episode, God’s sovereignty and David’s willingness to endure shame point to a posture of dependence on the Lord’s deliverance instead of trusting in personal defense or revenge.
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2 Samuel 16:6 meaning
“He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.” (2 Samuel 16:6) In this passage, we learn that a man named Shimei, from the family of the former King Saul, is assaulting and cursing David as David flees from his own son Absalom’s rebellion. David, who reigned as King of Israel from roughly 1010 BC to 970 BC, is in a vulnerable position, traveling with his loyal attendants and troops through the region of Bahurim. Bahurim is located just east of Jerusalem, in the territory originally allotted to the tribe of Benjamin—this area stood on a main route leading toward the Jordan basin. The mention that “all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left” (v.6) indicates David’s traveling entourage formed a protective formation around their king, yet allowed the hostile Shimei to vent his anger in the form of thrown stones.
“He threw stones at David” (v.6) highlights a moment of intense personal humiliation for David, underscoring the reality of his political crisis. Historically, David’s son Absalom had mounted a coup, forcing David from Jerusalem in a sudden, painful evacuation (2 Samuel 15). David remains calm in the face of this insult, believing that perhaps these events serve a greater purpose in God’s plan. David’s relationship with King Saul’s tribe of Benjamin had been precarious since he took the throne, and Shimei’s hostility reflects the deep-seated division that sometimes lingered after Saul’s death. In the broader scriptural storyline, this episode reveals how Israel’s leaders sometimes suffered at the hands of their own people, foreshadowing how Jesus would ultimately be rejected centuries later by those in authority (Luke 23:21).
The account of “He threw stones at David” (v.6) also demonstrates a lesson in trusting God’s sovereignty even when confronted by open hostility. David restrains his men from attacking Shimei (2 Samuel 16:10), showing a spirit of patience and humility. This teaches God’s people to stay faithful in hardships, resembling Christ’s call to love one’s enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Through this humbling episode, God’s sovereignty and David’s willingness to endure shame point to a posture of dependence on the Lord’s deliverance instead of trusting in personal defense or revenge.