and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart.
The rebellion is over, David is crossing back over the Jordan, and the first man to reach him is the one who had pelted him with stones and curses on the way out. Shimei now asks the king to strike that sin from the record — but is he sorry, or only frightened?
The man making the plea
Shimei's history explains why he throws himself down. He belonged to the family that had lost the throne to David, and he had chosen the worst possible moment to say so.
Morrish Bible DictionarySon of Gera, a Benjamite, of the house of Saul. He cursed David, calling him a worthless man, and threw stones and dust at him. This happened as David was hurrying away from Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion. But he submitted on David's return, and was not punished then.
Confession, and the timing of it
"Let not my lord hold me guilty" asks the king not to count the sin against him. The words are right, but Shimei speaks them only after David has his throne back — and he names the wrong family as his own.
Leslie M. GrantShimei had cursed David when he was in deep distress. Now he comes to meet him with a completely different attitude. Of course, he was afraid. He might suffer some just consequences of his wickedness now that David had regained his throne. He falls down before the king and confesses his wrong in the way he had insulted him. He asks the king not to count this iniquity against him, and not to remember the wrong he had done. He says he knows he had sinned, and so he is the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet the king. Chapter 16:5 tells us Shimei was of the house of Saul, which is of course from Benjamin, and verse 16 says he was a Benjamite. It seems strange, then, that he would speak of himself as being of the house of Joseph.
Why David does not test the confession
Abishai wants Shimei executed. David refuses, and his reason is the day itself, not a verdict on Shimei's heart.
H. L. RossierIn verses 16 to 23 we find forgiveness. The king forgives Shimei, who submits himself to escape the fate awaiting him... Abishai, unchanged, would like to take revenge on Shimei. David stops him: "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day?" No, this is the day of grace and forgiveness. David does not stop to weigh whether Shimei's feelings are sincere. He is not judging them now. Shimei will have to give account for them later, when his conduct reveals what they were really worth.
A king who knows who put him back
David knows who gave him back his crown, and that knowledge holds him in check.
Leslie M. GrantDavid has no intention of putting anyone to death now that God has in grace restored him to the throne. Suppose he thought his own ability or strength had recovered his authority. Then he might well take advantage of it. But he knew it was God who had made him king, and on this occasion at least he wanted to represent God rightly... David would not take revenge for his own sake. Later, when near death, he charged Solomon to see that Shimei suffered for his wickedness. This was simple righteousness. After David's death there would be no question of David seeking revenge for himself.
The limits of David's oath
Commentators differ on whether David's oath was wise. One writer measures him against the true David still to come, and sees a king carried along by his feelings.
William KellyThere the blaspheming Shimei cowers before the returning king. Those who had given a pretended obedience are now shown up for what they are. Here too the king shows that he was by no means equal to the task. Only the true David will take it up and carry it out in full. Moved by his feelings, David swears to Shimei that he shall not die — an oath that could not stand when Solomon came to the throne.
The window that closes
David spared his enemies. Solomon did not — and one writer sees the same pattern in how God deals with people now.
C KnappDavid tolerated these men all through his reign. He showed them grace. But Solomon is charged to put them to death. Once David's reign of grace is over, they get no mercy. This is solemn, sinner. David's throne, like God's at present, is a "throne of grace."
Summary
- The curse. Shimei cursed the Lord's anointed and threw stones at him while David fled Jerusalem.
- The confession. He asks the king not to count the sin against him, and says he knows he has sinned. The words are right. The man saying them is afraid of what the returning king could do.
- The day. David does not test whether Shimei means it. This is the day of grace and forgiveness, and no one in Israel dies.
- The deferral. Sparing a man is not calling him innocent. Shimei's later conduct would show what his repentance was worth.
- The warning. God's throne is a throne of grace now, as David's was — and grace shown under one reign did not survive into the next.