Reference: Shimei
Easton
famous. (1.) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Nu 3:18; 1Ch 6:17,29); called Shimi in Ex 6:17.
(2.) 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 (1Ki 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).
(3.) One of David's mighty men who refused to acknowledge Adonijah as David's successor (1Ki 1:8). He is probably the same person who is called elsewhere (1Ki 4:18) "the son of Elah."
(4.) A son of Pedaiah, the brother of Zerubbabel (1Ch 3:19).
(5.) A Simeonite (1Ch 4:26-27).
(6.) A Reubenite (1Ch 5:4).
(7.) A Levite of the family of Gershon (1Ch 6:42).
(8.) A Ramathite who was "over the vineyards" of David (1Ch 27:27).
(9.) One of the sons of Heman, who assisted in the purification of the temple (2Ch 29:14).
(10.) A Levite (2Ch 31:12-13).
(11.) Another Levite (Ezr 10:23). "The family of Shimei" (Zec 12:13; R.V., "the family of the Shimeites") were the descendants of Shimei (1).
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Fausets
1. Son of Gershom, son of Levi (1Ch 23:7,9-10; 6:17,29; Nu 3:18; Zec 12:13). (See SHELOMITH (5).) SHIMI in Ex 6:17.
2. Son of Gera, a Benjamite, of Saul's house; at Bahurim, a marked spot on the way from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, just within Benjamin; to this point Phaltiel followed Michal (2Sa 3:16). When David, fleeing from Absalom, reached the edge of the valley, between the road and Shimei's house, Shimei ran along the ridge over against the road, cursing and throwing stones and dust at him and his mighty men still as he went; and saying, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man and thou man of Belial the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul (referring to his hanging up Saul's sons for the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21, which in time preceded this; also to his general engagement in wars, 1Ch 22:8), 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" (2Sa 16:5-13). Abishai would have "taken off his head" then and there, as a "dead dog" presuming to "curse the king."
But David felt it was Jehovah's doing: "let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him; it may be that the Lord will look on shine affliction, and requite me good for his cursing." An undesigned coincidence between David's language in the history and in the independent psalms, a mark of genuineness (Ps 109:17,28, "let them curse, but bless Thou"; Ps 25:18, "look upon mine affliction," etc.). Shimei wisely was the "first of the house of Joseph" to meet David on his victorious return over Jordan (compare spiritually our wisdom, Lu 14:32). A thousand Benjamites, and Ziba with his 15 sons and 20 servants, were with him. He fell down before the king, confessing his sin and begging David not to "impute iniquity" to him, or remember and take to heart his perversity; spiritually compare Mt 5:25; Ps 32:1-6. Again Abishai would have slain Shimei, but David felt his day of restoration to the kingdom was no day for avenging wrongs, and said "thou shalt not die."
But on his deathbed David felt, though he forgave Shimei the personal wrong, yet that public justice required his punishment in some form, for David was not likely, in going to appear before God, to cherish revenge after having spared him twice when he might justly have slain him. To Solomon he committed the fulfillment of the duty unfulfilled by himself; "thou knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him." The impunity of Shimei as of Joab had brought the law into discredit, for Shimei was living in court favor at Jerusalem, "thou hast with thee Shimei" (1Ki 2:8). Anticipating from Shimei's restless spirit that he would attempt some fresh lawlessness, David says, "his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood." However, as Solomon did not put him to death but gave him a chance of life, some understand "not" after "bring thou down," taken from the former clause "hold him not guiltless," and "bring not down his hoar head," etc.
So in 1Sa 2:3, where two prohibitions come together, the negative is expressed only in the first clause and understood in the second. Solomon bound him on pain of death to build a house, and stay at Jerusalem, and not cross the Kedron which separated him from the road to his old abode at Bahurim. After the lapse of three years Shimei went after two slaves of his, who had fled to Achish of Gath. His breach of his own oath brought on him the king's threatened penalty; he was slain by Benaiah. Thus he brought, "on his own head" his wickedness towards David which David had left unavenged; justice had its course so by "taking away the wicked from before the king, his throne was established in righteousness" (Pr 25:5; 1Ki 2:36-46; Ps 7:16; Eze 17:19).
3. Faithful to Solomon in Adonijah's rebellion (1Ki 1:8); identified with Shimei son of Elah (1Ki 4:18), Solomon's commissariat officer in Benjamin; or with Shimei or Shammah, David's brother, or Shammah the Ararite (2Sa 23:11).
4. Son of Pedaiah, Zerubbabel's brother (1Ch 3:19).
5. Son of Zacchur, a Simeonite (1Ch 4:26-27); he had 16 sons and six daughters.
6. Son of Gog a Reubenite (1Ch 5:4).
7. A Gershonite Levite, son of Jahath (1Ch 6:42).
8. Son of Jeduthun, chief of the tenth division of singers (1Ch 25:17).
9. The Ramathite, over David's vineyards (1Ch 27:27).
10. A Levite, of the sons of Heman; took part in the purification of the temple under Hezekiah (2Ch 29:14).
11. The Levite, Cononiah's brother, having charge of the offerings, etc., under Hezekiah (2Ch 31:12-13). 2Ch 31:12. A Levite in Ezra's time (Ezr 10:23), married a foreign wife; also SEMIS.
13. Of the Hashum family, put away his foreign wife (Ezr 10:33).
14. Son of Bani, put away his foreign wife (Ezr 10:38).
15. Ancestor of Mordecai, son of Kish, of Benjamin (Es 2:5).
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Morish
Shim'ei
1. Son of Gershon, the son of Levi. Nu 3:18; 1Ch 6:17; 23:7,9-10. Called SHIMI in Ex 6:17.
2. Son of Gera, a Benjamite, of the house of Saul: he cursed David, calling him 'a man of Belial,' and threw stones and dust at him, when he was hastening from Jerusalem at the rebellion of Absalom; but made submission on David's return, and was not then punished. David at his death reminded Solomon of Shimei's wickedness, for he had cursed the Lord's anointed king. Solomon promised Shimei his life on the condition that he did not go out of Jerusalem; but he broke the compact and was put to death. 2Sa 16:5-13; 19:18-23; 1Ki 2:8-46.
3. Officer of David who kept aloof from Adonijah on his usurpation. 1Ki 1:8.
4. Son of Elah and one of Solomon's commissariat officers. 1Ki 4:18.
5. Son of Pedaiah, a son of Jeconiah. 1Ch 3:19.
6. Son of Zacchur, of the tribe of Simeon. 1Ch 4:26-27.
7. Son of Gog, of the tribe of Reuben. 1Ch 5:4.
8. Son of Libni, a Merarite. 1Ch 6:29.
9. Son of Jahath, a son of Gershon. 1Ch 6:42.
10. Chief of the tenth course in the service of song. 1Ch 25:17.
11. The Ramathite who was over the vineyards of David. 1Ch 27:27.
12. Son of Heman: he took part in the purification of the temple. 2Ch 29:14.
13. Levite who had charge of the offerings. 2Ch 31:12-13.
14. Levite who had married a strange wife. Ezr 10:23.
15, 16. Two who had married strange wives. Ezr 10:33,38.
17. Son of Kish, a Benjamite, and grandfather of Mordecai. Es 2:5.
18. A family who will mourn apart on the repentance of Jerusalem. Zec 12:13. This is by some associated with No. 1; but SIMEON is read in the margin, and in the LXX, the Arabic and Syriac versions. See under ZECHARIAH, Zech. 12.
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Smith
Shim'ei
(renowned).
1. Son of Gershon the son of Levi,
Nu 3:18; 1Ch 6:17,29; 23:7,9-10; Zec 12:13
called SHIMI in
See Shimi
(B.C. after 1706.)
2. Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, who lived at Bahurim. (B.C. 1023.) When David and his suite were seen descending the long defile, on his flight from Absolom,
the whole feeling of the clan of Benjamin burst forth without restraint in the person of Shimei. He ran along the ridge, cursing and throwing stones at the king and is companions. The next meeting was very different. The king was now returning from his successful campaign. Just as he was crossing the Jordan,
the first person to welcome him was Shimei who threw himself at David's feet in abject penitence. But the king's suspicions were not set at rest by this submission; and on his death-bed he recalls the whole scene to the recollection of his son Solomon. Solomon gave Shimei notice that from henceforth he must consider himself confined to the walls of Jerusalem, on pain of death.
For three years the engagement was kept. At the end of that time for the purpose of capturing two slaves who had escaped to Gath, he went out on his ass, and made his journey successfully. Ibid.
On his return the king took him at his word, and he was slain by Benaiah. Ibid.
3. One of the adherents of Solomon at the time of Adonjah's usurpation.
(B.C.1015.)
4. Solomon's commissariat officer in Benjamin.
5. Son of Pedaiah, and brother of Zerubbabel.
(B.C. 536.)
6. A Simeonite, son of Zacchur.
7. Son of Gog, a Reubenite.
8. A Gershonite Levite, son of Jahath.
9. Son of Jeduthun, and chief of the tenth division of the singers.
10. The Ramathite who was over David's vineyards.
11. A Levite of the sons of Heman, who took part in the purification of the temple under Zedekiah.
(B.C. 726.)
12. The brother of Cononiah the Levite, in the reign of Hezekiah.
Perhaps the same as the preceding.
13. A Levite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife.
14. One of the family of Hashum, who put away his foreign wife at Ezra's command.
15. A son of Bani, who had also married a foreign wife, and put her away.
(B.C. 459.)
16. Son of Kish, a Benjamite, and ancestor of Mordecai.
(B.C. before 479).