Christian Standard Bible
1 Kings 2:9
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.”
1 Kings 2:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
- New International Version (NIV)But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”
Context of 1 Kings 2:9
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. 8“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.’ So 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. 11The length of time David reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Read all of 1 Kings 21 Kings 2:9 word by word
וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore hold him not guiltlessנָקָהnâqâh · to clearH5352
- a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- and knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- what thou oughtest to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto him; but his hoar headשֵׂיבָהώêybâh · hoary headH7872
- bring thou downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to the graveשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585
- with bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:9
- Judges 5:30“Are they not finding and dividing the spoil — a girl or two for each warrior, the spoil of colored garments for Sisera, the spoil of an embroidered garment or two for my neck?”
- 1 Samuel 2:3Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him.
- Psalms 1:5Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
- Psalms 9:18For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever.
- Psalms 38:1Lord, do not punish me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
- Psalms 75:5Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak arrogantly.’”
- Proverbs 5:16Should your springs flow in the streets, streams in the public squares?
- Proverbs 24:12If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your life know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?
- Exodus 20:7Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
- Exodus 22:28“You must not blaspheme God or curse a leader among your people.
- Job 9:28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me.
- 1 Kings 3:12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.
- 1 Kings 2:6Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.
- Genesis 42:38But Jacob answered, “My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.”
- Genesis 44:31when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hairs of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
- Numbers 32:23But if you don’t do this, you will certainly sin against the Lord; be sure your sin will catch up with you.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Hold him not guiltless - Do not consider him as an innocent man, though I have sworn to him that I would not put him to death by the sword; yet as thou art a wise man, and knowest how to treat such persons, treat him as he deserves; only as I have sworn to him, and he is an aged man, let him not die a violent death; bring not down his hoary head to the grave with blood. So Solomon understood David, and so I think David should be understood; for the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Hold him not guiltless - i. e. “Do not treat him as an innocent man. Punish him as in thy wisdom thou deemest best. Not capitally at once; but so that he may be likely to give thee in course of time a just occasion to slay him.” So, at least, Solomon seems to have understood the charge. (See 1 Kings 2:36-46.)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. 7-9Barzillai strongly supported David during his conflict with Absalom, while Shimei openly opposed David (2 Samuel 16:5–13; 19:6–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. for thou art a wise man--Solomon had given early indications of wisdom before his miraculous endowment with the heavenly gift (see 1Ki 3:11), and his own sagacity would dictate the course that should be followed in any new offense that Shimei might commit.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 2:9
In the dictionaries
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
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