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

6Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death. 7“Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom. “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down with the sword.’ 9But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.” 10Then David passed away 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 2:24Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne, and established a dynasty for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!”
• 2 Samuel 16:5Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul’s extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached.
• 2 Samuel 19:16Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David.
• Jeremiah 4:2You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by him as you are and will make him the object of their boasting.”

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