David’s Forgiveness

The first of those who come to meet David as he is returning to Jerusalem—and perhaps the most surprising —is Shimei, who cursed and insulted David during his flight from Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5–13). When he comes, he falls before David in a gesture of submission. He then admits he wronged David, asks him not to remember it, and says he knows he has sinned. To show his loyalty, he points out that he is the first to welcome David from “the house of Joseph,” a broad term for Israel’s northern tribes. And he brings a thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin (v. 17) as an indication that he has convinced a large group from Saul’s tribe to receive David back.

Is Shimei really repentant or is he simply trying to escape the consequences of a rash act? Matthew Henry is inclined to accept the latter possibility. He writes, “If David had been defeated, no doubt he would have continued to trample upon him, and have gloried in what he had done; but now that he sees him coming home in triumph, and returning to his throne, he thinks it his interest to make his peace with him.” Perhaps, however, David’s victory over Absalom, who once seemed so invincible, has convinced Shimei that God is indeed with David. Perhaps he is like the Roman centurion who helped execute Jesus, then confessed Him to be the Son of God when he witnessed the manifestations that accompanied His death (Mark 15:38–39). Perhaps the Holy Spirit has changed Shimei’s heart. We cannot say.

But one person has not changed—David’s nephew Abishai. He was in favor of putting Shimei to death when he cursed David (16:9), and now he once again calls for the death penalty for this one who cursed God’s anointed. But David again refuses to allow it—angrily this time. He declares that Abishai and his brother Joab are “adversaries,” meaning “adversaries to his inclination, which was to clemency,” as Henry explains.

In David’s eyes, this is a day of reconciliation, and it would not be appropriate or wise for him to wreak vengeance on anyone. Yes, he is king once more—he has the power to judge. But he wants to bring Israel together by his mercy. Therefore, he swears that Shimei will not be put to death. (But he later charges his son Solomon to recompense Shimei, and Solomon does so when Shimei ignores the terms of Solomon’s mercy, 1 Kings 2:8–9, 36–46).