1 Kings 2:8
Context2:8 “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, 1 who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. 2 He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised 3 him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down 4 with the sword.’
1 Kings 2:36-46
Context2:36 Next the king summoned 5 Shimei and told him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem 6 and live there – but you may not leave there to go anywhere! 7 2:37 If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will certainly die! You will be responsible for your own death.” 8 2:38 Shimei said to the king, “My master the king’s proposal is acceptable. 9 Your servant will do as you say.” 10 So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. 11
2:39 Three years later two of Shimei’s servants ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told, “Look, your servants are in Gath.” 2:40 So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath. 2:41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned, 2:42 the king summoned 12 Shimei and said to him, “You will recall 13 that I made you take an oath by the Lord, and I solemnly warned you, ‘If you ever leave and go anywhere, 14 know for sure that you will certainly die.’ You said to me, ‘The proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.’ 15 2:43 Why then have you broken the oath you made before the Lord and disobeyed the order I gave you?” 16 2:44 Then the king said to Shimei, “You are well aware of the way you mistreated my father David. 17 The Lord will punish you for what you did. 18 2:45 But King Solomon will be empowered 19 and David’s dynasty 20 will endure permanently before the Lord.” 2:46 The king then gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada who went and executed Shimei. 21
So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom. 22
[2:8] 1 tn Heb “Look, with you is Shimei….”
[2:8] 2 tn Heb “and he cursed me with a horrible curse on the day I went to Mahanaim.”
[2:8] 3 tn Or “swore an oath to.”
[2:36] 5 tn Heb “sent and summoned.”
[2:36] 6 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[2:36] 7 tn Heb “and you may not go out from there here or there.”
[2:37] 8 tn Heb “your blood will be upon your head.”
[2:38] 9 tn Heb “Good is the word, as my master the king has spoken.”
[2:38] 10 tn Heb “so your servant will do.”
[2:42] 12 tn Heb “sent and summoned.”
[2:42] 13 tn Heb “Is it not [true]…?” In the Hebrew text the statement is interrogative; the rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course it is.”
[2:42] 14 tn Heb “here or there.”
[2:42] 15 tn Heb “good is the word; I have heard.”
[2:43] 16 tn Heb “Why have you not kept the oath [to] the
[2:44] 17 tn Heb “You know all the evil, for your heart knows, which you did to David my father.”
[2:44] 18 tn Heb “The
[2:46] 21 tn “The king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada and he went out and struck him down and he died.”
[2:46] 22 tn “And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.”