Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
The oath to spare Shimei was given after Absalom's death as David was returning to Jerusalem. At that time God had turned the hearts of Israel to David as one man. Shimei, who had cursed David in his humility, came among the first of the rebels to meet him, driven by fear for his life, and confessed his rebellious conduct toward him.
Those who had witnessed Shimei's abuse urged David not to spare him because he had cursed the Lord's anointed. But David rebuked them and with merciful forgiveness spared Shimei's life, refusing revenge though he could readily have put the offender to death. By sparing him when he could have gratified a revengeful spirit, David proved he was not the bloody and mischievous man Shimei had called him, for he had no such spirit.
The oath to spare Shimei was given after Absalom's death as David was returning to Jerusalem. At that time God had turned the hearts of Israel to David as one man. Shimei, who had cursed David in his humility, came among the first of the rebels to meet him, driven by fear for his life, and confessed his rebellious conduct toward him.
Those who had witnessed Shimei's abuse urged David not to spare him because he had cursed the Lord's anointed. But David rebuked them and with merciful forgiveness spared Shimei's life, refusing revenge though he could readily have put the offender to death. By sparing him when he could have gratified a revengeful spirit, David proved he was not the bloody and mischievous man Shimei had called him, for he had no such spirit.