And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath to retrieve his servants and had come back again. The report marked the moment when Shimei's departure and return became known to the king after his journey to Gath for his servants. The verse belongs to the history of Solomon's reign when the kingdom was still united and undivided. That same undivided reign is also covered by 2 Chronicles 1-9.
Within 1 Kings 2:1-46 the verse belongs to Solomon's acts after peacefully receiving the throne. There he carried out after David's death the measures David had charged him to take for securing the throne. The surrounding account shows mercy at first to Adonijah when he fled to the horns of the altar and then puts him to death for a later offense and insult to the king. It also puts Joab to death for disloyalty and removes Abiathar the priest from office, all shortly after Solomon was crowned king.
Shimei was the man who had cursed David, whom Solomon had spared on solemn oath and command to remain in Jerusalem within an appointed boundary. Death was made certain on the day he went outside that boundary. His going to Gath broke that oath, command, and boundary conditions for his life. Violating them over the slight matter of his servants showed the wickedness of his heart and lack of regard for his oath. Solomon's restriction tested whether Shimei would keep his word, leaving the consequence of his choice in his own hands.
The verse illustrates that a sentence of death can be passed on the day of disobedience even when death does not occur that day. So Shimei's return to Jerusalem did not cancel the sentence, which was carried out afterward. For that failure Shimei was put to death, connecting him with the just reward for his wickedness. Though he had expected David to fall, he himself went down. The chapter containing the verse is part of the history showing how Nathan's denunciation after David's sin against Uriah was fulfilled through judgments that came upon David.
Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath to retrieve his servants and had come back again. The report marked the moment when Shimei's departure and return became known to the king after his journey to Gath for his servants. The verse belongs to the history of Solomon's reign when the kingdom was still united and undivided. That same undivided reign is also covered by 2 Chronicles 1-9.
Within 1 Kings 2:1-46 the verse belongs to Solomon's acts after peacefully receiving the throne. There he carried out after David's death the measures David had charged him to take for securing the throne. The surrounding account shows mercy at first to Adonijah when he fled to the horns of the altar and then puts him to death for a later offense and insult to the king. It also puts Joab to death for disloyalty and removes Abiathar the priest from office, all shortly after Solomon was crowned king.
Shimei was the man who had cursed David, whom Solomon had spared on solemn oath and command to remain in Jerusalem within an appointed boundary. Death was made certain on the day he went outside that boundary. His going to Gath broke that oath, command, and boundary conditions for his life. Violating them over the slight matter of his servants showed the wickedness of his heart and lack of regard for his oath. Solomon's restriction tested whether Shimei would keep his word, leaving the consequence of his choice in his own hands.
The verse illustrates that a sentence of death can be passed on the day of disobedience even when death does not occur that day. So Shimei's return to Jerusalem did not cancel the sentence, which was carried out afterward. For that failure Shimei was put to death, connecting him with the just reward for his wickedness. Though he had expected David to fall, he himself went down. The chapter containing the verse is part of the history showing how Nathan's denunciation after David's sin against Uriah was fulfilled through judgments that came upon David.