The Execution of Shimei

36

The king summoned Shim'i and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Yerushalayim, and live there; don't go outside the city walls.

37

Know for a fact that on the day you go out and cross Vadi Kidron, you will certainly die; your blood will be on your own head."

38

Shim'i answered the king, "What you have said is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do." So Shim'i lived in Yerushalayim for a long time.

39

But after three years, two of Shim'i's slaves ran away and went to Akhish son of Ma'akhah, king of Gat. They told Shim'i, "Your slaves are in Gat."

40

So Shim'i set out, saddled his donkey and went to Akhish in Gat to look for his slaves; then Shim'i returned, bringing his slaves from Gat.

41

Shlomo was told that Shim'i had gone from Yerushalayim to Gat and back.

42

The king summoned Shim'i and said to him, "Didn't I have you swear by ADONAI and forewarn you by telling you, 'Know for a fact that on the day you leave and go anywhere outside the city, you will certainly die'? and you answered me, 'What you're saying is good; I hear it.'

43

Why, then, haven't you kept the oath of ADONAI and the mitzvah I charged you with?"

44

Moreover, the king said to Shim'i, "You know in your own heart all the terrible things you did to David my father; therefore ADONAI will bring back your wickedness on your own head.

45

But King Shlomo will be blessed, and the throne of David will be established before ADONAI forever."

46

So the king gave the order to B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada, and he went out and struck him down, so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in Shlomo's hands.

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