2 Samuel 19:16–23

¹⁶Shimei son of Gera, ^ka Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul, ^lwith his 15 sons and 20 servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. ¹⁸They forded the Jordan to bring the king’s household across and do whatever the king desired. ^m

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king ¹⁹and said to him, “My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. ⁿMay the king not take it to heart. ²⁰For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

²¹Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” ^o

²²David answered, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? ^pHave you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I’m king over Israel?” ²³So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath. ^q