“And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:”
My Notes
What Does 2 Samuel 16:7 Mean?
Shimei curses David as David flees Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion: "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial!" He throws stones and dirt at the king. The accusations are that David is a murderer (bloody man) and a worthless person (man of Belial).
The curses sting because they contain partial truth. David is a bloody man — Uriah's blood is on his hands. The kingdom trouble David is fleeing is connected to the sin Nathan prophesied would produce exactly this kind of family upheaval (2 Samuel 12:10-11). Shimei's theology is wrong (David wasn't punished for Saul's blood, which is what Shimei implies). But the accusation of bloodguilt hits a nerve because David has real blood on his hands.
Shimei is from Saul's tribe (Benjamin) and likely sees David's troubles as divine payback for displacing Saul's dynasty. His curses are tribal vengeance dressed as prophetic insight.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever been cursed by someone whose accusations were partially true — and how did you handle the sting?
- 2.Does David's response (let him curse, maybe God sent him) model how to receive hostile criticism?
- 3.How do you distinguish between an enemy's slander and an enemy's accurate (if unkind) observation?
- 4.What does David's humility under Shimei's curses teach about leadership in the lowest moments?
Devotional
Bloody man! Man of Belial! Shimei throws stones and curses at the fleeing king. And David lets him.
David is at his lowest: fleeing his own capital because his son has stolen the throne. Weeping. Barefoot. Head covered. And along comes Shimei — throwing rocks, throwing dirt, throwing curses. Come out, come out, you murderer. You worthless man. God is paying you back.
The curses hurt because they're partially true. David IS a bloody man. Not for Saul's blood (that's Shimei's incorrect accusation) but for Uriah's. The sword that Nathan promised would never depart from David's house (2 Samuel 12:10) is the sword that's now pursuing him through Absalom's rebellion. Shimei's theology is wrong but the experience he's interpreting is real: David is reaping what he sowed.
The partial truth in an enemy's curse is the most painful part. If Shimei were completely wrong, the stones wouldn't sting. But David knows — somewhere in the insults — there's a kernel of accuracy. Not the whole truth. But enough truth to wound.
David's response (verse 10-12) is remarkable: let him curse. Maybe God told him to. Maybe the LORD will look on my affliction and repay me good for his cursing. David doesn't defend himself. He absorbs the stones and the curses and wonders if God is behind them.
The humility of the fleeing king is greater than the arrogance of the cursing Benjamite. David — on the worst day of his life — has the spiritual maturity to consider that even an enemy's curse might carry God's purpose.
The stones hit. The curses land. And David keeps walking.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And thus said Shimei, when he cursed, come out, come out,.... Or rather, "go out, go out" (t); that is, out of the…
Come out - Rather, “Go out,” namely, of the land, into banishment. Compare Jer 29:16. Thou bloody man - See the margin.…
We here find how David bore Shimei's curses much better than he had borne Ziba's flatteries. By the latter he was…
Come out, come out Out! out! from the land and from thy kingdom into exile.
thou bloody man Thou man of blood, thou…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture