The Execution of Shimei

36

Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.

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On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

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“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

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After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

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So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

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When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,

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the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’

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So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

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The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.

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But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

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Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.

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