Day 155 – 2 Samuel 19:16-23
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 19:16-23
He had crossed Jordan and is now back as the restored king.
"And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David."
(2 Samuel 19:16)
Shimei appears again. He is the man from Bahurim who cursed David when David was fleeing from Absalom. He had thrown stones, cast dust, and called David a bloody man. Now the same man "hasted" to meet David. Hasted means he hurried. He is also called a Benjamite, meaning he was from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's tribe. Reminding me that his anger came from old loyalty to Saul's house.
"And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king."
(2 Samuel 19:17)
Shimei brings a thousand men of Benjamin with him. This is more than a private apology.
Benjamin had strong ties to Saul's house. If David is going to heal the kingdom, he cannot ignore Benjamin. Shimei coming with a thousand Benjamites shows that David's return is not just about one man crossing a river. The divided nation is being brought back under the king. Ziba is also there, the servant of Saul's house. He had met David earlier with supplies and had accused Mephibosheth.
"And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;"
(2 Samuel 19:18)
David's household is being brought over Jordan. Then Shimei falls down before the king. The man who once stood above David on the hillside cursing now lies low before David at the river. Sin may stand tall for a season, but it must bow when the king returns. Shimei had been loud when David was leaving. Now he is low when David is coming back.
"And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart."
(2 Samuel 19:19)
Shimei is asking David not to charge his sin against him. He is asking for pardon. He also says he acted "perversely." That means crookedly, wrongly, or wickedly. Shimei does not soften what he did. He does not say, "I was misunderstood." He does not say, "I was having a bad day." He calls it perverse.
"For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king."
(2 Samuel 19:20)
Shimei says, "I have sinned." There is no healing without confession. He also says he came first of all the "house of Joseph." The house of Joseph often represents the northern tribes connected with Ephraim and Manasseh, and more broadly the people outside Judah. Shimei is presenting himself as one of the first from that side to welcome David back. He wants David to see him not only as a guilty man asking mercy, but as a useful man helping restore the kingdom. His repentance may be sincere, but it is also very convenient.
This makes me think about how sometimes people confess because their heart is broken or confess because circumstances changed. Sometimes both are tangled together. David cannot read Shimei's heart perfectly, but he can decide what kind of day this will be.
"But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?"
(2 Samuel 19:21)
Abishai speaks up. He asks whether Shimei should be put to death because he cursed "the LORD's anointed." To curse David was rebellion against the king God had placed over Israel. Abishai is stating that Shimei's sin was serious. He had publicly cursed the king during a national crisis. In Abishai's mind, justice demands death. He wanted to kill Shimei back when Shimei was cursing David on the road. He is always ready with the sword. Sometimes Abishai's zeal protects David, but sometimes it presses David toward revenge.
"And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?"
(2 Samuel 19:22)
David rebukes Abishai and the sons of Zeruiah. This is David's way of saying, "Your spirit is not matching mine in this moment." Then he calls them "adversaries." Abishai thinks he is defending David, but David says he is actually becoming an adversary to him. Abishai wanted justice, but David saw that this was a day for mercy and national healing. This is the day the king is restored. It should not be marked first by executions. Then David says, "do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?"
"Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him."
(2 Samuel 19:23)
David gives Shimei a clear word, "Thou shalt not die." Then the king "sware" unto him. Sware means he made an oath or solemn promise. David does not delay punishment. He gives Shimei assurance. On this day, the guilty man is spared by the word of the king.
I cannot help but see a gospel picture here. Shimei says, "Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me." That sounds like the great blessing of a sinner whose guilt is not charged to him. Romans 4:8 says, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." David is not Christ, but in this moment he gives a small picture of kingly mercy. A guilty man bows. He confesses. The king has the power to condemn, but he speaks life. A heart after God remembers that those who have received mercy from the Lord should be ready to show mercy when others bow low before them.