1 Kings 2:42
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good.
And the king {H4428} sent {H7971} and called {H7121} for Shimei {H8096}, and said {H559} unto him, Did I not make thee to swear {H7650} by the LORD {H3068}, and protested {H5749} unto thee, saying {H559}, Know {H3045} for a certain {H3045}, on the day {H3117} thou goest out {H3318}, and walkest {H1980} abroad any whither {H575}, that thou shalt surely {H4191} die {H4191}? and thou saidst {H559} unto me, The word {H1697} that I have heard {H8085} is good {H2896}.
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.'
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.’
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not adjure thee by Jehovah, and protest unto thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The saying that I have heard is good.
Cross-References
-
1 Kings 2:36 (2 votes)
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. -
1 Kings 2:38 (2 votes)
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying [is] good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. -
Luke 19:22 (2 votes)
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: -
Psalms 15:4 (2 votes)
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. [He that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not. -
Luke 15:22 (2 votes)
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
Commentary
1 Kings 2:42 (KJV)
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good.
Context
This verse is part of the final instructions and actions taken by King Solomon to secure his throne after the death of his father, David. Shimei, a man who had cursed King David during Absalom's rebellion (see 2 Samuel 16:7), was spared by David but placed under strict conditions by Solomon. Solomon confined Shimei to Jerusalem, making him swear by the LORD not to leave the city on pain of death (1 Kings 2:36-38). Shimei agreed to these terms, stating, "The word that I have heard is good." However, after three years, Shimei broke his oath by leaving Jerusalem to retrieve runaway servants.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "swear by the LORD" (Hebrew: נִשְׁבַּע בַּיהוָה, nishba' Yahweh) signifies a solemn oath invoking God's name. This was the strongest form of oath in ancient Israel, placing the covenant under divine witness and judgment. Breaking such an oath was not merely a breach of human trust but an offense against God himself, carrying severe spiritual and often temporal consequences.
Commentary and Reflection
King Solomon here confronts Shimei, not with new charges, but with a reminder of the explicit agreement they had made. Solomon recounts the terms: Shimei swore by the LORD not to leave Jerusalem, knowing the penalty for doing so was death. Solomon specifically recalls Shimei's own words of acceptance, "The word that I have heard is good," underscoring that Shimei fully understood and consented to the terms. This confrontation establishes that Shimei's subsequent death was not arbitrary royal cruelty but the direct, agreed-upon consequence of his own actions in violating a sacred oath and breaking the boundary set for him. It serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of promises made before God and the inevitability of facing the results of our choices, especially when we disregard clear warnings and prior commitments.
Practical Application
This passage serves as a powerful reminder about the importance of keeping our word, particularly commitments made with solemnity. It encourages us to consider the weight of our promises and agreements. Furthermore, it illustrates that disregarding established boundaries or rules, even after acknowledging their validity, will inevitably lead to consequences. For believers, it highlights the seriousness of our covenant relationship with God and the call to live in obedience to His commands, understanding that there are spiritual consequences for disobedience.
Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.