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Bible Dictionaries
Shimei
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or 1. Son of Gershom, son of Levi (1 Chronicles 23:7; 1 Chronicles 23:9-10; 1 Chronicles 6:17; 1 Chronicles 6:29; Numbers 3:18; Zechariah 12:13). (See SHELOMITH (5).) SHIMI in Exodus 6:17.
2. Son of Gera, a Benjamite, of Saul's house; at Bahurim, a marked spot on the way from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, just within Benjamin; to this point Phaltiel followed Michal (2 Samuel 3:16). When David, fleeing from Absalom, reached the edge of the valley, between the road and Shimei's house, Shimei ran along the ridge over against the road, cursing and throwing stones and dust at him and his mighty men still as he went; and saying, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man and thou man of Belial the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul (referring to his hanging up Saul's sons for the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21, which in time preceded this; also to his general engagement in wars, 1 Chronicles 22:8), and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son, and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man" (2 Samuel 16:5-13). Abishai would have "taken off his head" then and there, as a "dead dog" presuming to "curse the king."
But David felt it was Jehovah's doing: "let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him; it may be that the Lord will look on shine affliction, and requite me good for his cursing." An undesigned coincidence between David's language in the history and in the independent psalms, a mark of genuineness (Psalms 109:17; Psalms 109:28, "let them curse, but bless Thou"; Psalms 25:18, "look upon mine affliction," etc.). Shimei wisely was the "first of the house of Joseph" to meet David on his victorious return over Jordan (compare spiritually our wisdom, Luke 14:32). A thousand Benjamites, and Ziba with his 15 sons and 20 servants, were with him. He fell down before the king, confessing his sin and begging David not to "impute iniquity" to him, or remember and take to heart his perversity; spiritually compare Matthew 5:25; Psalms 32:1-6. Again Abishai would have slain Shimei, but David felt his day of restoration to the kingdom was no day for avenging wrongs, and said "thou shalt not die."
But on his deathbed David felt, though he forgave Shimei the personal wrong, yet that public justice required his punishment in some form, for David was not likely, in going to appear before God, to cherish revenge after having spared him twice when he might justly have slain him. To Solomon he committed the fulfillment of the duty unfulfilled by himself; "thou knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him." The impunity of Shimei as of Joab had brought the law into discredit, for Shimei was living in court favor at Jerusalem, "thou hast with thee Shimei" (1 Kings 2:8). Anticipating from Shimei's restless spirit that he would attempt some fresh lawlessness, David says, "his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood." However, as Solomon did not put him to death but gave him a chance of life, some understand "not" after "bring thou down," taken from the former clause "hold him not guiltless," and "bring not down his hoar head," etc.
So in 1 Samuel 2:3, where two prohibitions come together, the negative is expressed only in the first clause and understood in the second. Solomon bound him on pain of death to build a house, and stay at Jerusalem, and not cross the Kedron which separated him from the road to his old abode at Bahurim. After the lapse of three years Shimei went after two slaves of his, who had fled to Achish of Gath. His breach of his own oath brought on him the king's threatened penalty; he was slain by Benaiah. Thus he brought, "on his own head" his wickedness towards David which David had left unavenged; justice had its course so by "taking away the wicked from before the king, his throne was established in righteousness" (Proverbs 25:5; 1 Kings 2:36-46; Psalms 7:16; Ezekiel 17:19).
3. Faithful to Solomon in Adonijah's rebellion (1 Kings 1:8); identified with Shimei son of Elah (1 Kings 4:18), Solomon's commissariat officer in Benjamin; or with Shimei or Shammah, David's brother, or Shammah the Ararite (2 Samuel 23:11).
4. Son of Pedaiah, Zerubbabel's brother (1 Chronicles 3:19).
5. Son of Zacchur, a Simeonite (1 Chronicles 4:26-27); he had 16 sons and six daughters.
6. Son of Gog a Reubenite (1 Chronicles 5:4).
7. A Gershonite Levite, son of Jahath (1 Chronicles 6:42).
8. Son of Jeduthun, chief of the tenth division of singers (1 Chronicles 25:17).
9. The Ramathite, over David's vineyards (1 Chronicles 27:27).
10. A Levite, of the sons of Heman; took part in the purification of the temple under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:14).
11. The Levite, Cononiah's brother, having charge of the offerings, etc., under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:12-13). 2 Chronicles 31:12. A Levite in Ezra's time (Ezra 10:23), married a foreign wife; also SEMIS.
13. Of the Hashum family, put away his foreign wife (Ezra 10:33).
14. Son of Bani, put away his foreign wife (Ezra 10:38).
15. Ancestor of Mordecai, son of Kish, of Benjamin (Esther 2:5).
These files are public domain.
Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Shimei'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/s/shimei.html. 1949.
