2 Samuel 16:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord has avenged on you all the blood 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. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood."

NIV: The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!"

NASB: The Lord has brought back upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!'

CSB: The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!"

NLT: The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!'

KJV: The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

NKJV: The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

Absalom marches on Jerusalem to take the kingdom from his father, David, who flees with his people. Meanwhile, Shimei is cursing and throwing rocks at David for taking the kingdom from his relative Saul (2 Samuel 16:5–7). He most likely believes the narrative Saul created.

From the first time Saul's army marched home, and the women praised David for striking down "ten thousands," Saul became intensely jealous of his new warrior (1 Samuel 18:6–9). He tried to kill David personally (1 Samuel 18:10–11). He used his daughters to try to kill him (1 Samuel 18:17–21). He berated Jonathan for his friendship with the man who would take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 20:30–34). When David fled, Saul chased him with Israel's army, but David refused to fight. Even when he cut a small piece of Saul's robe, David felt horrible for putting a hand on the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:4–7).

Ironically, when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, David was supposed to be there, fighting for the Philistines (1 Samuel 29). Instead, he was chasing after Amalekites who had kidnapped his family (1 Samuel 30). When a man arrived, claiming to have killed Saul and Jonathan, David had him executed and sang a lament (2 Samuel 1). When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son and the king of the northern tribes, was murdered, David executed his killers (2 Samuel 4:5–12). And when David became king, instead of killing Saul's family as rivals, he searched for someone he could honor, and brought Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, into the royal court (2 Samuel 9).

Shimei believes Saul's story that David is an upstart who stole the kingdom from its rightful heirs. He thinks God is avenging Saul by calling Absalom to drive David out. He doesn't understand that David's reign is due to Saul's disobedience to God (1 Samuel 13:8–14; 15:8, 26).

Saul was right that David would replace him, but it wasn't David's doing. It was God's judgment on Saul. And yet, Shimei is right that Absalom's attack is God's judgment on David. It's not for taking the throne; God has called up evil from David's own home as judgment for David's sin against Uriah (2 Samuel 12:9–12).

Second Samuel 16:5–8 shows David meeting another member of Saul's family. He and his servants are running for their lives, trying to get to the Jordan River before Absalom can attack. Ziba, Jonathan's son's servant, has already given them food and donkeys (2 Samuel 16:1– 4). Now, Saul's relative Shimei has come to offer curses and stones. He blames David for Saul and his sons' deaths. David's general Abishai offers to execute Shimei, but David stops him. For all David knows, God has told Shimei to do this. If that's the case, David will bear it patiently (2 Samuel 16:9–14).

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).