Shimei bitterly curses David for supposed bloodshed during David’s escape from Jerusalem, but David humbly endures the insult and trusts God to decide matters.
In 2 Samuel 16:7, a man named Shimei curses King David, hurling harsh accusations as David and his men travel. The text says, “Thus Shimei said when he cursed, ‘Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!’” (2 Samuel 16:7). Historically, King David reigned over Israel from around 1011 BC to 971 BC, and this incident took place when David’s own son Absalom led a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15). As David made his way out of the city, Shimei—who was from the family of the previous king, Saul—vented his anger by identifying David as one who wrongly shed blood and was now supposedly reaping the consequences.
The verse begins by noting, “Thus Shimei said when he cursed” (2 Samuel 16:7). The motive behind Shimei’s loud, insulting words was personal. Shimei was a Benjaminite, and Saul, the first king of Israel, came from Benjamin. Shimei likely believed David unjustly replaced Saul’s dynasty and may have blamed David for the downfall of Saul’s lineage. While Shimei’s curse calls David a “man of bloodshed,” it is possible he looked back to earlier reports of David’s long conflict with Saul, or even considered David’s more recent troubles, such as the events leading up to Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-16).
In Shimei’s phrases, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!” (2 Samuel 16:7), we see both slander and deep resentment. David’s approach is noteworthy: he allows Shimei’s words without immediate retribution (2 Samuel 16:11). This episode also points forward to the theme that even a king chosen by God endures humiliations on his way to spiritual refinement. Jesus later models a similar response to insults, enduring verbal abuse at His trial without retaliating (Matthew 26:63), showing that meekness can be more powerful than force.
This event takes place east of Jerusalem, near Bahurim (2 Samuel 16:5). Bahurim was in the tribe of Benjamin’s territory, located on the route leading out of Jerusalem’s eastern vicinity. Seeing the geography helps us picture David’s exit from Jerusalem as a vulnerable journey, physically and emotionally, intensified by Shimei’s cursing.
Without retribution, David absorbs the insult, trusting God’s ultimate justice. Like Christ before His crucifixion (1 Peter 2:23), David offers an example of trusting the Lord even while facing hostile words. Faith can hold firm in the face of curses and ridicule, relying on God rather than resorting to violence.
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2 Samuel 16:7 meaning
In 2 Samuel 16:7, a man named Shimei curses King David, hurling harsh accusations as David and his men travel. The text says, “Thus Shimei said when he cursed, ‘Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!’” (2 Samuel 16:7). Historically, King David reigned over Israel from around 1011 BC to 971 BC, and this incident took place when David’s own son Absalom led a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15). As David made his way out of the city, Shimei—who was from the family of the previous king, Saul—vented his anger by identifying David as one who wrongly shed blood and was now supposedly reaping the consequences.
The verse begins by noting, “Thus Shimei said when he cursed” (2 Samuel 16:7). The motive behind Shimei’s loud, insulting words was personal. Shimei was a Benjaminite, and Saul, the first king of Israel, came from Benjamin. Shimei likely believed David unjustly replaced Saul’s dynasty and may have blamed David for the downfall of Saul’s lineage. While Shimei’s curse calls David a “man of bloodshed,” it is possible he looked back to earlier reports of David’s long conflict with Saul, or even considered David’s more recent troubles, such as the events leading up to Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-16).
In Shimei’s phrases, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!” (2 Samuel 16:7), we see both slander and deep resentment. David’s approach is noteworthy: he allows Shimei’s words without immediate retribution (2 Samuel 16:11). This episode also points forward to the theme that even a king chosen by God endures humiliations on his way to spiritual refinement. Jesus later models a similar response to insults, enduring verbal abuse at His trial without retaliating (Matthew 26:63), showing that meekness can be more powerful than force.
This event takes place east of Jerusalem, near Bahurim (2 Samuel 16:5). Bahurim was in the tribe of Benjamin’s territory, located on the route leading out of Jerusalem’s eastern vicinity. Seeing the geography helps us picture David’s exit from Jerusalem as a vulnerable journey, physically and emotionally, intensified by Shimei’s cursing.
Without retribution, David absorbs the insult, trusting God’s ultimate justice. Like Christ before His crucifixion (1 Peter 2:23), David offers an example of trusting the Lord even while facing hostile words. Faith can hold firm in the face of curses and ridicule, relying on God rather than resorting to violence.