1 Kings 2:8

1 Kings 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)“And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious 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 you to death with the sword.’

Context of 1 Kings 2:8

6Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace. 7“Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom. “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’ 9So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.” 10Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.

1 Kings 2:8 word by word

וְהִנֵּ֣ה עִ֠מְּךָ שִֽׁמְעִ֨י בֶן־גֵּרָ֥א בֶן־הַיְמִינִי֮ מִבַּחֻרִים֒ וְה֤וּא קִֽלְלַ֙נִי֙ קְלָלָ֣ה נִמְרֶ֔צֶת בְּי֖וֹם לֶכְתִּ֣י מַחֲנָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־יָרַ֤ד לִקְרָאתִי֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֤וֹ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֲמִֽיתְךָ֖ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• with thee Shimeiשִׁמְעִיshim‛îy · ShimeiH8096
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Geraגֵּרָאgêrâ' · GeraH1617
• a Benjamiteבֶּן־יְמִינִיben-yemîynîy ben-ha-yemînîy ben-'îysh yemîynîy · BenjaminiteH1145
• of Bahurimבַּחֻרִיםbachûrîym bachûrîym · BahurimH980
• which cursedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• me with a grievousמָרַץmârats · be sickH4834
• curseקְלָלָהqelâlâh · curseH7045
• in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• when I wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• to Mahanaimמַחֲנַיִםmachănayim · MahanaimH4266
• but he came downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• me at Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
• and I swareשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• to him by the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I will not put thee to deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• with the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:8

• 1 Kings 2:24And now, as the Lord lives — the one who established me, seated me on the throne of my father David, and made me a dynasty as he promised — I swear Adonijah will be put to death today!”
• 2 Samuel 16:5When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached.
• 2 Samuel 19:16Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
• Jeremiah 4:2then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,” in truth, justice, and righteousness, and then the nations will be blessed by him and will boast in him.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Thou hast with thee Shimei - See on 2 Samuel 16:5; (note), etc., and the notes on 2 Samuel 19:18-23; (note).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne, which was the murders he had committed, but would readily repeat them to carry any purpose; though long reprieved, he shall be reckoned with at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of any sin, particularly of murder. Concerning Shimei, Hold him not guiltless; do not think him any true friend to thee, or thy government…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Mahanaim was where David found safety during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 17:24). The Egyptian pharaoh, Shishak, attacked it when Rehoboam was king (see 1 Kings 14:25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. thou hast with thee Shimei--Though David promised him a pardon, which being enforced by the presence of a thousand followers, could not have been well refused, he warned his son against Shimei as a turbulent and dangerous character. It must not be supposed that in these dying instructions David was evincing a fierce, vindictive spirit. He is rather to be considered as acting in the character of a king and magistrate, in noticing crimes which he had not…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:8

• Bahurim
• David
• Death
• Forgiveness
• Gera
• Mahanaim
• Malice
• Retaliation
• Will

In the dictionaries

• Jordan
• Shimei
• Jordan River, Jordan
• Curse
• Fail
• Gone
• Return
• Solomon
• Abishag
• Adonijah

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings