2 Samuel 16:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

NIV: David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

NASB: Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'Behold, my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.

CSB: Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life —how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to.

NLT: Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.

KJV: And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

NKJV: And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him.

David is caught between two men who want to avenge their relative and king. Shimei is from Saul's family. He sees David fleeing Absalom and believes the rebellion is God's judgment against David for taking Saul's kingdom, so he throws curses and stones at David and his fleeing servants (2 Samuel 16:5–8). Abishai is David's nephew and the leader of his elite "might men." He wants to take Shimei's head off (2 Samuel 16:9).

David isn't worried about Shimei's accusations. He knows that God took the kingdom from Saul because of Saul's continued disobedience. Saul spread the message that David wanted to usurp Saul, but nothing could be further from the truth. David continually refused to fight Saul. Instead, he waited for God to give him what He promised.

Abishai is reacting as he's trained. They're in Benjamin, surrounded by Saul's tribe. Abishai's job is to protect David and fight his battles. If he can't fight real war, yet, he can at least defend his uncle's honor.

David knows that in the larger picture, Shimei's display isn't about Saul. Absalom's rebellion is part of God's judgment for David's sins of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:10–11). David reasons that Shimei's shouted curses might also be part of God's punishment for his sin. If so, David will not avoid God's judgment. He will trust God to make everything right in the end (2 Samuel 16:12), even if it means his death (2 Samuel 15:25–26).

Second Samuel 16:9–14 records David continuing to show grace to Saul's house. While fleeing Absalom, David comes across Saul's relative Shimei. Shimei blames David for Saul and his sons' deaths. He curses David as a "man of blood" and throws rocks at him (2 Samuel 16:5–8). Abishai offers to kill Shimei, but David stops him. David knows Absalom and Shimei aren't punishment for betraying Saul; they're part of God's curse for David's betrayal of Uriah (2 Samuel 12:10–12). David lets Shimei live, but when Shimei breaks the stipulations, Solomon has him executed (1 Kings 2:36–46).

David flees and Absalom takes Jerusalem. Absalom arrives with his supporters while David and his servants race to the Jordan River (2 Samuel 15). Mephibosheth's servant Ziba brings David donkeys, provisions, and news that Mephibosheth has also betrayed David. Shimei, Saul's relative, throws stones and curses at David and his people. David's former counselor Ahithophel convinces Absalom to have sex with David's concubines. But David's friend Hushai has infiltrated Absalom's council and will prove to be an exceptionally good spy (2 Samuel 17:1–22).

In 2 Samuel 16, leadership in Jerusalem changes hands. Because of David's sin (2 Samuel 11), God predicts death and controversy in David's life. That starts with assault and murder within David's own family (2 Samuel 12—14). The murderer, David's son Absalom, took four years to gain the people's trust and declare himself king (2 Samuel 15:1–11). He won over David's counselor, but David has his servants, warriors, two priests, and an old friend: the last three stay as spies (2 Samuel 15:13–37). As Absalom takes the throne, David meets two Benjamites: one helpful and one horrible. Soon, Absalom will plan an attack, but the priests and David's friend send word and save David's people (2 Samuel 17:1–22).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.