Shimei שִׁמְעִי

David's adversary. Shimei was a Benjamite who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion but later sought the king's forgiveness.

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Where Shimei appears

1 Kings (8), 2 Samuel (7)

Key verses

• 2 Samuel 16:5 first mention — 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.
• 2 Samuel 16:7 — And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
• 2 Samuel 16:13 — And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
• 2 Samuel 19:16 — And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
• 2 Samuel 19:18 — And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
• 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?
• 2 Samuel 19:23 — Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
• 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 2:36 — 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.
• 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 Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
• 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.
• 1 Kings 2:44 — The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

Person data: STEPBible.org TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0), adapted. Several people in the Bible share this name; this page is about the one described above. Verse text: King James Version.