2 Samuel 16
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 16
Spurgeon - “David could take this fellow’s head off and that in a moment, and yet he said, ‘Let him alone. Let him curse.’ And this makes a splendid example. If you can revenge yourself, DON’T. If you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word.”
2 Samuel 16
Spurgeon - It is very hard to bear a cowardly attack. One is very apt to reply and use hard words to one who takes advantage of your position and deals you the coward’s blow. Only the coward strikes a man when he is down.” SHIMEI - A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2Sa 16:5-13). After the defeat of Absalom he "came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer homage to the king" (2Sa 19:16-23). David forgave him; but on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions regarding Shimei, of whose fidelity he seems to have been in doubt (1 Kings 2:8,9). He was put to death at the command of Solomon, because he had violated his word by leaving Jerusalem and going to Gath to recover two of his servants who had escaped (1Ki 2:36-46). 2 Samuel 16:5-12 Father Knows Best Unlike David in 2 Samuel 16, we like to take revenge, silence our critics, insist on fairness, and set everything right. But David told those who wanted to defend him: “Let [Shimei] alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him” (v.11). It seems to me that as the years go by, we grow—as David did—in the awareness of God’s protective love. We become less concerned with what others say about us and more willing to give ourselves over to our Father. We learn humble submission to God’s will. We may, of course, ask our opponents to justify their charges, or we may meet them with steadfast denial if they charge us falsely. But when we have done all we can do, the only thing left is to wait patiently until God vindicates us. In the meantime, it’s good to look beyond the words of those who vilify us to the will of the One who loves us with infinite love. We need to say that whatever God permits is for His ultimate good in us or in others—even though our hearts break and we shed bitter tears. Each day we learn from yesterday Of God’s great love and care; And every burden we must face He’ll surely help us bear. —D. De Haan It takes the storm to prove the real shelter 2 Samuel 16:5-14 In God's Hands In 2 Samuel 16:5-14 we read of King David being cursed by Shimei. This happened while David was fleeing from his son Absalom, who wanted to kill him. Unlike David, we often want to silence our critics, insist on fairness, and defend ourselves. But as we grow in our awareness of God's protective love, we become less concerned with what others say about us and more willing to entrust ourselves to our Father. Like David, we can say of each critic, "Let him alone, and let him curse" (2 Samuel 16:11). This is humble submission to God's will. We may ask our opponents to justify their charges, or we may counter them with steadfast denial. Or, like David (v.12), we can wait patiently until God vindicates us. It is good to look beyond those who oppose us and look to the One who loves us with infinite love. It is good to be able to believe that whatever God permits is for our ultimate good—good, though we're exposed to the curses of a Shimei; good, though our hearts break and we shed bitter tears. THINKING IT OVER Read 1 Peter 2:20-23. How did Jesus respond to words spoken against Him? What did He do and not do? In what situations can you follow His example? We can endure life's wrongs because we know that God will make all things right. QUESTION - Who was Shimei in the Bible? ANSWER - There are a total of 18 men in the Bible with the name Shimei, all Israelites and all found in the Old Testament. Some Shimeis are simply mentioned by name in genealogies, some are called out for their sin of intermarriage with other cultures, and some are mentioned due to their relationship to other famous Bible characters (such as Saul, David, and Esther). You can find a few of them in the following passages: 2 Samuel 21:21; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Chronicles 3:19; 4:26–27; 5:4; 6:29..... The other Shimei who stands out in the Bible is Shimei son of Gera, who was a part of King Saul’s clan. When King David was forced to flee from his son Absalom, who coveted his father’s throne, Shimei met the king along the way: “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” (2 Samuel 16:5–6). Shimei blamed David for King Saul’s death during a battle with the Philistines. Saul had, in fact, fallen on his own sword to escape capture by the enemy (see 1 Chronicles 10:1–4); however, Shimei accused David of murder and announced that this was the reason Absalom was taking over the kingdom. David’s men wanted to kill Shimei then and there, but David, in his despair, believed the Lord had sent Shimei to curse him (2 Samuel 16:11–12), and he refused to allow his men to kill Shimei. David and his party resumed their journey, and Shimei continued to follow, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at them (1Sa 16:13). Eventually, Absalom’s rebellion was put down, Absalom was killed, and King David was restored to his throne. Shimei knew that he was now on shaky ground, so he gathered with him over a thousand Benjamites and went to meet David (2 Samuel 19:16–17). Falling on his face, Shimei apologized for his past behavior and begged the king not to hold it against him (2Sa 19:18–20). Again King David’s men asked to kill Shimei, but again David refused and gave Shimei his oath that he would not kill him. It seems that Shimei was a thoroughly despicable man, however, and that he persisted in his opposition to David. On his deathbed, David charged Solomon with the task of executing Shimei: “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” (1 Kings 2:9). The only reason Shimei was still alive was that David was honoring his oath. Solomon showed Shimei mercy, giving him one final chance: as long as Shimei remained in Jerusalem, he would live (1Ki 2:36–37). Shimei agreed to the pact, but three years later he left the city. When King Solomon found out, he called for Shimei and told him, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing” (verse 44). Shimei was then executed (1Ki 2:46). GotQuestions.org (Bolding added) 2 Samuel 16:6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SHIMEI'S FOOLISH BRAVADO Bravado is a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate, in this case the latter. He threw (pelted) stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty (gibbor; Lxx - dunatos - powerful) men were at his right hand and at his left - Shimei is not being brave but being a fool for throwing rocks at mighty men with swords! 2 Samuel 16:7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! you man of bloodshed, 2Sa 3:37 2Sa 11:15-17 2Sa 12:9 Ps 5:6 Ps 51:14 and worthless fellow Dt 13:13 1Sa 2:12 25:17 1Ki 21:10,13 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CURSING MAN OF BLOOD & BELIAL! Thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow (beliyyaal - Lit - Heb “man of worthlessness”) - He is telling David to leave the City of David! Talk about hubris! It's like Shimei is saying "Good riddance" which expresses relief at being free of a troublesome or unwanted person! Man of bloodshed in context refers to people of Saul's family David killed but could also allude to David's murder of Uriah (2Sa 11:15-17). Worthless fellow is literally man of Belial or man of worthlessness, in essence one who is good for nothing (base, even evil)! Swindoll writes that "Shimei was your basic reprobate—the kind of person who kicks you while you’re on your face, down and out. You’re at the very ultimate, lowest pit and along comes a Shimei. Boom! Hits you below the belt. And when you squirm, he comes back with another blow." (Ibid) Mattoon - The word “Belial” (beliyyaal) comes from two Hebrew words which mean “to become old & worn out” and “to profit or gain.” Shimei was saying to David that he was a worthless, worn out, good for nothing scoundrel. (Treasures from 2 Samuel) The Living Bible paraphrases Shimei's shouting - “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The Lord is paying you back for murdering King Saul and his family [that was a lie]; you stole his throne [another lie] and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom [that’s a third lie—the Lord never gave David’s son the throne; Absalom took the throne]! At last you will taste some of your own medicine, you murderer!” Worthless (wicked, Belial)(01100) beliyyaal from belî + yaʿal: "not, without" and "to be of use, worth, or profit.") A worthless person, good for nothing to himself or others, and capable of nothing but mischief. Some feel that the word Belial can be traced to the false god Baal, and is also a term for yoke (they cast off the yoke of decency), and a term for entangling or injuring. The LXX renders it according to the context by the terms paranomos, anomia, and aphrōn, i.e. "lawless, lawlessness, witless." By the NT time, Belial had become synonymous with Satan (cf. 2 Cor. 6:15+). There is one use we would all do well to ponder and in the power of the Spirit affirm or declare (or pray) to be true in our life from time to time... I will set no worthless (beliyyaal) thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten (dabaq) its grip on me. (Psalm 101:3+) (MARK IT DOWN - WORTHLESS IMAGES CAN BE VERY "STICKY" IN YOUR MIND'S EYE! I AM SPEAKING ESPECIALLY TO YOU MEN AS YOU KNOW TO WHAT I AM REFERRING!) Beliyyaal - 26v - base(1), destruction(1), rascally(1), scoundrels*(1), ungodliness(1), wicked(3), worthless(18), worthless one(1). Deut. 13:13; Deut. 15:9; Jdg. 19:22; Jdg. 20:13; 1 Sam. 1:16; 1 Sam. 2:12; 1 Sam. 10:27; 1 Sam. 25:17; 1 Sam. 25:25; 1 Sam. 30:22; 2 Sam. 16:7; 2 Sam. 20:1; 2 Sam. 22:5; 2 Sam. 23:6; 1 Ki. 21:10; 1 Ki. 21:13; 2 Chr. 13:7; Job 34:18; Ps. 18:4; Ps. 41:8; Ps. 101:3; Prov. 6:12; Prov. 16:27; Prov. 19:28; Nah. 1:11; Nah. 1:15 2 Samuel 16:8 "The LORD has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!" returned: Jdg 9:24,56,57 1Ki 2:32,33 Ac 28:4,5 Rev 16:6 the bloodshed: 2Sa 1:16 3:28,29 4:8-12 Ps 3:2 4:2 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SHIMEI SAYS DAVID DESERVES WHAT IS HAPPENING The LORD has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned - In saying the LORD has returned upon you Shimei in effect stands in the LORD'S place as judge of David's acts against Saul and his replacement of Saul as king. This is slander for the truth is that David had spared Saul’s life several times and always honored Saul's position as the anointed king. and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom - Shimei says this is David's retribution for his deeds. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed - In short, Shimei says David is ruined because he is a murderer. The NLT paraphrases it "At last you will taste some of your own medicine, you murderer!" To taste one's own medicine means that someone is. sampling the same unpleasantness they have been dishing out to others.