2 Samuel 19:22
And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
After Absalom's death, as David was returning to Jerusalem, God turned the hearts of all Israel to him as one man. Shimei, who had cursed David in his humiliation, came among the first of the rebels to meet him, confessing his rebellious conduct from fear for his life. Those who had witnessed his abuse urged David not to spare him but to put him to death because he had cursed the Lord's anointed.
David rebuked those urging execution and spared Shimei's life, mercifully forgiving him rather than gratifying a revengeful spirit by putting him to death when he readily could have done so. This mercy proved David was not the bloody and revengeful man Shimei had called him.