2 Samuel 16:5

KJV

¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when king {H4428} David {H1732} came {H935} to Bahurim {H980}, behold, thence came out {H3318} a man {H376} of the family {H4940} of the house {H1004} of Saul {H7586}, whose name {H8034} was Shimei {H8096}, the son {H1121} of Gera {H1617}: he came forth {H3318}, and cursed {H7043} still as he came {H3318}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When King David arrived at Bachurim, there came out from there a man from Sha'ul's family named Shim'i the son of Gera; and he came out pronouncing curses

Berean Standard Bible

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.

American Standard Version

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
As King David fled Jerusalem amidst the rebellion of his son Absalom, he reached Bahurim, a village on the outskirts. There, he was confronted by Shimei, a man from the house of Saul, who emerged to hurl bitter curses and stones at the distressed monarch and his entourage. This humiliating encounter underscored David's profound vulnerability and the deep-seated resentment that still simmered among those loyal to the former dynasty, revealing the raw political and personal cost of his current crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a pivotal and deeply humiliating moment in David's reign, immediately following Absalom's successful coup in Jerusalem. The preceding chapter, [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion and David's Flight"), details David's reluctant but necessary flight from his capital, his decision to leave the Ark of the Covenant, and his strategic deployment of Hushai to counter Ahithophel's counsel. As David and his loyalists make their sorrowful exodus, they encounter Shimei at Bahurim, a brief but potent scene that intensifies the narrative of David's suffering and vulnerability before the detailed accounts of Absalom's rule and eventual defeat in [2 Samuel 17](/2_samuel/17 "2 Samuel 17 - Ahithophel's Counsel Thwarted"). The incident serves as a stark illustration of David's fallen state, a king stripped of his dignity and subject to public scorn, setting the stage for his remarkable response in [2 Samuel 16:10-12](/2_samuel/16-10 "2 Samuel 16:10-12 - David's Humble Response to Shimei").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Bahurim was a village located east of Jerusalem, likely on the route David took across the Kidron Valley and towards the Jordan River. Its location made it a strategic point for an ambush or confrontation. The act of publicly cursing a king, especially one in flight, was an extreme act of defiance and disrespect, punishable by death in most ancient Near Eastern cultures. Shimei's identity as a Benjamite from the family of Saul is crucial; it highlights the lingering political and tribal animosity towards David, who had supplanted Saul's dynasty. Despite David's long and successful reign, pockets of loyalty to the former king, particularly within Saul's own tribe of Benjamin, persisted. Shimei's actions reflect a deep-seated grievance, possibly viewing David as a usurper or even holding him responsible for the tragic demise of Saul and his house (cf. [1 Samuel 31](/1_samuel/31 "1 Samuel 31 - The Death of King Saul")). This incident underscores the fragile nature of political unity and the enduring power of tribal loyalties in ancient Israel.
* **Key Themes:** The encounter with Shimei at Bahurim powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of 2 Samuel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **divine sovereignty and human suffering**. David, God's anointed king, is experiencing profound humiliation, which he later interprets as potentially permitted by God ([2 Samuel 16:10-12](/2_samuel/16-10 "2 Samuel 16:10-12 - David's Humble Response to Shimei")). Secondly, it underscores the **consequences of sin**, as David's current distress is often viewed as a divine judgment for his past transgressions, particularly the Bathsheba affair and the murder of Uriah ([2 Samuel 12:10-12](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10-12 - Nathan's Prophecy of Judgment")). Thirdly, the scene vividly portrays **David's vulnerability and humility**, contrasting sharply with his earlier triumphs and demonstrating his willingness to endure personal shame for the sake of God's will. Finally, it illustrates the **lingering political and tribal divisions** within Israel, revealing that even after years of David's reign, deep-seated resentments against his dynasty, particularly from the house of Saul, continued to fester and emerge in moments of weakness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bahurim (Hebrew, _Baḥurim'_):** This specific geographical location is significant. It was a village in Benjamin, east of Jerusalem, on the road leading down to the Jordan Valley. Its proximity to Saul's tribal territory (Benjamin) is key, making it a natural place for a loyalist of Saul's house like Shimei to reside or intercept David. The name itself might derive from a word meaning "young men" or "chosen ones," though its etymology is less important than its tribal association here.
* **Shimei (Hebrew, _Shim'i'_):** Identified as "the son of Gera" and "of the family of the house of Saul," Shimei is explicitly linked to the former royal dynasty. This lineage immediately establishes his motive: he represents the enduring resentment and opposition from those who felt disenfranchised or wronged by David's ascension to the throne. His specific identification grounds the abstract "house of Saul" in a concrete, hostile individual.
* **Cursed (Hebrew, קָלַל, _qalal'_):** The verb `qalal` literally means "to be light," "to treat lightly," or "to be swift." In the Piel stem, as used here, it takes on the meaning of "to curse," "to revile," or "to treat with contempt." This is not a casual insult but a deliberate, severe act of verbal abuse, often invoking divine judgment or misfortune upon the cursed party. The repetition implied by "cursed still as he came" suggests a continuous, escalating stream of vitriol, not just a single utterance, indicating Shimei's deep-seated hatred and determination to inflict maximum psychological harm.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when king David came to Bahurim":** This clause sets the scene, emphasizing David's physical journey away from Jerusalem, a journey of forced exile rather than triumphant procession. The mention of "king David" juxtaposed with his flight underscores the profound irony and humiliation of his situation. He is still king, but his circumstances are anything but kingly.
* **"behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul":** The phrase "behold, thence came out" highlights the sudden and deliberate appearance of Shimei. He is not merely encountered; he "comes out," implying a purposeful confrontation. His identification as "a man of the family of the house of Saul" immediately reveals the political and dynastic nature of his animosity, linking his actions to the historical power struggle between David and the former king's lineage.
* **"whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera":** This provides the specific identity of David's antagonist, personalizing the conflict. Naming him grounds the incident in reality and allows for future narrative developments concerning Shimei.
* **"he came forth, and cursed still as he came.":** This final clause describes Shimei's active and continuous aggression. "Came forth" reiterates his deliberate intent. "Cursed still as he came" (or "kept on cursing as he went along") portrays a relentless, vocal assault, not a fleeting outburst. This sustained verbal attack, accompanied by stone-throwing (as subsequent verses reveal), was designed to publicly shame and degrade David, adding to the king's already immense burden of grief and humiliation.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of 2 Samuel 16:5 is rich with **Irony**, as the anointed king of Israel is seen fleeing his capital, vulnerable and subjected to the curses of a commoner from the very house he replaced. This starkly contrasts with David's former glory and power. The scene also employs **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the deeper theological meaning David will later attribute to this suffering, suggesting it is part of God's permissive will or even a divine test. Shimei himself functions as a **Symbol** of the lingering opposition and tribal resentments that continued to plague David's unified kingdom, representing the unresolved tensions from the transition of power from Saul to David. Furthermore, the detailed description of Shimei's active and continuous cursing ("cursed still as he came") uses **Repetition** to emphasize the intensity and persistence of the verbal assault, amplifying David's humiliation and the audacity of Shimei's defiance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This encounter with Shimei at Bahurim serves as a powerful illustration of the theological principle that God can use even the most painful and unjust human actions as instruments in His sovereign plan. David's willingness to endure Shimei's curses, seeing them potentially as God's allowance or even a divine discipline, demonstrates a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and a recognition of his own accountability before the Lord. It highlights the theme of suffering as a refining process and the humility required to accept adversity, even when it feels undeserved. The incident also underscores the reality of human animosity and the enduring nature of resentment, reminding us that opposition, even from unexpected sources, is often part of the journey of faith and leadership.

* [Proverbs 26:2](/proverbs/26-2 "Proverbs 26:2 - A Curse Without Cause")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work Together for Good")
* [1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ's Example in Suffering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene at Bahurim offers profound lessons on how to respond to unjust criticism and adversity. David, a mighty king, found himself in a position of extreme vulnerability, subjected to public humiliation and verbal abuse from someone who harbored deep-seated resentment. His initial response, as seen in the subsequent verses, is not one of immediate retaliation but of remarkable patience and trust in God's sovereign hand. This teaches us that true strength is often found not in asserting power or seeking vengeance, but in humility, endurance, and a willingness to commit our cause to God. When we face undeserved attacks, whether verbal or otherwise, this narrative encourages us to pause, to consider if God might be allowing the situation for a greater purpose, and to trust that He will ultimately bring justice or refinement. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for lingering resentments and to choose forgiveness and reliance on divine strength over bitterness and retaliation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when I am unjustly criticized or publicly humiliated?**
* **In what ways might God be using difficult or humiliating circumstances in my life to refine my character or teach me dependence on Him?**
* **What resentments or unresolved conflicts might I be harboring, and how might they be impacting my spiritual health or relationships?**
* **How does David's response to Shimei challenge my understanding of strength and vulnerability in leadership or personal life?**

### FAQ

**Why was Shimei so hostile towards David?**

Answer: Shimei's intense hostility stemmed primarily from his deep loyalty to the fallen house of Saul. As a Benjamite and a relative of Saul, he likely viewed David as a usurper who had displaced Saul's dynasty and possibly held him responsible for the misfortunes that befell Saul's family. David's flight from Absalom provided Shimei with a perceived moment of weakness and divine judgment against David, which he seized to express his long-held resentment and contempt. His cursing was a public act of defiance and an attempt to shame the king, reflecting the lingering tribal and political divisions that persisted in Israel even after David had established his reign (cf. [2 Samuel 2:8-10](/2_samuel/2-8 "2 Samuel 2:8-10 - Ish-Bosheth, Saul's Son, Made King")).

**Did David retaliate against Shimei immediately?**

Answer: No, David did not retaliate immediately. Although his mighty men, particularly Abishai, urged him to allow them to kill Shimei for his insolence, David famously restrained them. His response, found in [2 Samuel 16:10-12](/2_samuel/16-10 "2 Samuel 16:10-12 - David's Humble Response to Shimei"), reveals a remarkable humility and trust in God's sovereignty. He suggested that if the Lord had commanded Shimei to curse him, then he would endure it, seeing it as a potential discipline or a path through which God might bring him good. This moment highlights David's profound spiritual maturity and his willingness to submit to God's permissive will, even in the face of extreme provocation.

**What happened to Shimei later in the narrative?**

Answer: After Absalom's rebellion was crushed and David returned to Jerusalem, Shimei quickly came to meet David, along with a thousand Benjamites, to beg for forgiveness and pledge his loyalty ([2 Samuel 19:16-23](/2_samuel/19-16 "2 Samuel 19:16-23 - Shimei Seeks Forgiveness")). David, in a moment of magnanimity, swore an oath that he would not put Shimei to death. However, on his deathbed, David instructed his son Solomon to deal with Shimei, reminding him of the curses at Bahurim ([1 Kings 2:8-9](/1_kings/2-8 "1 Kings 2:8-9 - David's Charge to Solomon Concerning Shimei")). Solomon later confined Shimei to Jerusalem and eventually had him executed when Shimei violated the terms of his confinement ([1 Kings 2:36-46](/1_kings/2-36 "1 Kings 2:36-46 - Solomon's Judgment on Shimei")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The humiliating encounter between King David and Shimei at Bahurim serves as a poignant foreshadowing of the ultimate suffering and unjust treatment endured by the true King, Jesus Christ. David, God's anointed, was reviled and cursed by one from his own people, in a moment of profound vulnerability and perceived weakness, as he fled from a rebellious son. This mirrors the experience of Jesus, the Son of David, who, though innocent, was subjected to far greater scorn, false accusations, and physical abuse by those He came to save. Just as Shimei cursed David, so too did the crowds and the religious leaders hurl insults and curses at Jesus during His passion, mocking Him on the cross ([Matthew 27:39-44](/matthew/27-39-44 "Matthew 27:39-44 - Jesus Mocked on the Cross")). David's humble acceptance of the cursing, seeing it as potentially allowed by God, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who "when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously" ([1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ's Example in Suffering")). Jesus, the Lamb of God, silently endured the curses and the cross, not because of His own sin, but for ours, demonstrating perfect obedience and humility even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humiliation")). His suffering at the hands of His own people, like David's, was part of God's sovereign plan to bring about salvation, making Him the ultimate King who conquers not through power, but through sacrificial love and enduring humiliation ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 3:16

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

1 Samuel 17:43

And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

1 Kings 2:8

And, behold, [thou hast] with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

1 Kings 2:9

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

Exodus 22:28

Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

2 Samuel 17:18

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

1 Kings 2:36

And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.