Shim'e-i is a biblical figure prominently featured in the Old Testament, particularly in the narratives surrounding King David. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. Shim'e-i was a member of the tribe of Benjamin, the same tribe as King Saul, and he is most notably recognized for his interactions with King David during a tumultuous period in David's reign.

Background and Family

Shim'e-i, the son of Gera, was a Benjamite from Bahurim, a village near the Mount of Olives. This geographical detail is significant as it places him within the territory historically associated with the tribe of Benjamin, which had a complex relationship with David's rule due to its association with Saul, the first king of Israel.

Encounter with King David

Shim'e-i's most famous encounter with David occurs during Absalom's rebellion. As David fled Jerusalem to escape his son Absalom's coup, Shim'e-i met him along the way. In a dramatic and hostile display, Shim'e-i cursed David, throwing stones and dirt at him and his entourage. He accused David of being a "man of blood" and attributed the downfall of Saul's house to David's actions. This incident is recorded in 2 Samuel 16:5-13:

"As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, 'Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!'"

Despite the provocation, David chose to show restraint, instructing his men not to retaliate against Shim'e-i. David's response is a testament to his humility and trust in God's justice, as he believed that the LORD might have sent Shim'e-i to curse him.

Reconciliation and Pardon

After Absalom's defeat and David's return to Jerusalem, Shim'e-i was among those who came to seek the king's forgiveness. In 2 Samuel 19:18-23, Shim'e-i hurried to meet David at the Jordan River, confessing his wrongdoing and pleading for mercy. David, demonstrating clemency and a desire to unify the nation, swore an oath not to put Shim'e-i to death.

Final Days and Death

The account of Shim'e-i concludes in the early chapters of 1 Kings. As David's life drew to a close, he instructed his son Solomon to deal wisely with Shim'e-i, reminding Solomon of the curses Shim'e-i had pronounced. Solomon initially showed leniency, allowing Shim'e-i to live in Jerusalem under the condition that he never leave the city. However, when Shim'e-i later violated this condition by traveling to Gath, Solomon ordered his execution, fulfilling David's earlier counsel (1 Kings 2:8-9, 36-46).

Theological Significance

Shim'e-i's narrative highlights themes of justice, mercy, and the sovereignty of God. His interactions with David illustrate the tension between personal vendetta and divine providence. David's restraint and eventual pardon of Shim'e-i reflect a Christ-like forbearance, while Solomon's eventual judgment underscores the importance of obedience and the fulfillment of divine justice. Shim'e-i's account serves as a reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the overarching authority of God's will in the affairs of men.Shim'e-i (40 Occurrences)

Exodus 6:17
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
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Numbers 3:18
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
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2 Samuel 16:5
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 kept on cursing as he came.
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2 Samuel 16:7
And thus said Shimei when he cursed: 'Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow;
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2 Samuel 16:13
So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
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2 Samuel 19:16
And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, made haste and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
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2 Samuel 19:18
And the ferryboat passed to and fro to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he would go over the Jordan.
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2 Samuel 19:21
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said: 'Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?'
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2 Samuel 19:23
And the king said unto Shimei: 'Thou shalt not die.' And the king swore unto him.
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2 Samuel 21:21
And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
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1 Kings 1:8
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
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1 Kings 2:8
And, behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying: I will not put thee to death with the sword.
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1 Kings 2:36
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him: Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
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1 Kings 2:38
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.
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1 Kings 2:39
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying: 'Behold, thy servants are in Gath.'
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1 Kings 2:40
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
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1 Kings 2:41
And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come back.
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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 forewarned 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 is good; I have heard it.
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1 Kings 2:44
The king said moreover to Shimei: 'Thou knowest all the wickedness which thy heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father; therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.
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1 Kings 4:18
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
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1 Chronicles 3:19
And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;
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1 Chronicles 4:26
And the sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
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1 Chronicles 4:27
And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
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1 Chronicles 5:4
The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son;
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1 Chronicles 6:17
And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni, and Shimei.
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1 Chronicles 6:29
The sons of Merari: Mahli; Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son;
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1 Chronicles 6:42
the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei;
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1 Chronicles 8:21
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, were the sons of Shimei.
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1 Chronicles 23:7
Of the Gershonites: Ladan, and Shimei.
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1 Chronicles 23:9
The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan.
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1 Chronicles 23:10
And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
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1 Chronicles 25:3
Of Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, Shisshah, 'are' by the side of their father Jeduthun; with a harp he is prophesying, for giving of thanks and of praise to Jehovah.
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1 Chronicles 25:17
The tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve;
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1 Chronicles 27:27
and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite;
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2 Chronicles 29:14
and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
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2 Chronicles 31:12
And they brought in the offerings and the tithes and the hallowed things faithfully; and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
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Ezra 10:23
And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah--the same is Kelita--Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
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Ezra 10:33
Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.
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Ezra 10:38
and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei;
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Esther 2:5
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
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Shim'ei (40 Occurrences)
Shim'ei. Shimei, Shim'ei. Shimei's . Multi-Version Concordance
Shim'ei (40 Occurrences). Exodus 6:17 The sons of Gershon: Libni ...
/s/shim'e-i.htm - 16k

Shim'ei's (1 Occurrence)
Shim'ei's. Shimei's, Shim'ei's. Shimeites . Multi-Version Concordance
Shim'ei's (1 Occurrence). 1 Kings 2:39 And it came to pass ...
/s/shim'e-i's.htm - 6k

Shimei (43 Occurrences)
...shim'-ei (shim`i, possibly "hear me (El)" or "(Jah)"; Semeei, Semei): A name of
frequent occurrence throughout the Old Testament records, sometimes varying ...
/s/shimei.htm - 30k

Shimeites (2 Occurrences)

/s/shimeites.htm - 7k

Shimei's (1 Occurrence)

/s/shimei's.htm - 6k

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