After three years, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, "Look, your slaves are in Gath." But it came aboutThis phrase indicates a transition in the narrative, suggesting the unfolding of events that are part of God's sovereign plan. The Hebrew root here, "וַיְהִי" (vayehi), often introduces significant developments in biblical stories, reminding us of the divine orchestration behind human history. It serves as a reminder that God's timing is perfect, and His plans are always fulfilled in due course. at the end of three years
The specific mention of "three years" is significant in biblical numerology, where the number three often symbolizes completeness or divine perfection. This period marks a divinely appointed time for the fulfillment of a prophecy or a significant change. Historically, this time frame allowed for the establishment of Solomon's reign and the testing of Shimei's loyalty, reflecting God's patience and justice. that two of Shimei’s servants
The mention of "two" servants highlights the idea of witness or testimony, as two witnesses were required to establish a matter according to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 19:15). The servants' actions serve as a testimony to Shimei's character and the unfolding of God's judgment. This detail underscores the importance of accountability and the consequences of one's actions. ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath
Gath was one of the five Philistine cities, often associated with Israel's enemies. Achish, the king, is a historical figure known from earlier biblical accounts involving David. The servants' flight to Gath symbolizes a return to a place of opposition to God's people, highlighting the theme of rebellion and the allure of worldly refuge. This act of fleeing to a foreign king underscores the tension between Israel and its neighbors and the spiritual implications of seeking security outside of God's provision. And Shimei was told
The passive construction here suggests that Shimei's awareness of the situation was not of his own doing but was brought to him by others. This reflects the biblical principle that truth will eventually come to light, and hidden actions will be revealed. It serves as a reminder of God's omniscience and the inevitability of divine justice. Look, your servants are in Gath
The imperative "Look" (Hebrew "הִנֵּה," hinneh) is a call to attention, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the information. The fact that the servants are in Gath, a city of the Philistines, highlights the gravity of the situation for Shimei, who had been under a conditional promise of safety. This phrase serves as a turning point, illustrating the consequences of disobedience and the fulfillment of Solomon's warning to Shimei. It is a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness and the cost of straying from God's commands. Persons / Places / Events 1. ShimeiA member of the tribe of Benjamin who had previously cursed King David but was later spared by him. He was placed under house arrest by Solomon with the condition that he would be executed if he left Jerusalem. 2. AchishThe son of Maacah and the king of Gath, a Philistine city. Achish is known for his interactions with David when David sought refuge among the Philistines. 3. GathA major Philistine city, often in conflict with Israel. It was one of the five Philistine city-states and is frequently mentioned in the context of David's interactions with the Philistines. 4. Shimei’s ServantsThese individuals fled from Shimei, prompting him to leave Jerusalem in pursuit, which ultimately led to his downfall. 5. SolomonThe king of Israel, son of David, who had given Shimei the condition to stay in Jerusalem as a test of his loyalty. Teaching Points Obedience and ConsequencesShimei's account illustrates the importance of obedience to authority and the consequences of failing to adhere to established boundaries. The Nature of ForgivenessSolomon's initial mercy towards Shimei reflects the complexity of forgiveness and the expectation of genuine repentance and change. The Influence of Past ActionsShimei's past actions against David had long-lasting effects, demonstrating how past sins can impact future opportunities and relationships. Divine JusticeThe unfolding events show how divine justice can manifest through human actions and decisions, as Solomon's wisdom in dealing with Shimei ultimately fulfilled God's purposes. The Importance of Keeping PromisesShimei's failure to keep his promise to Solomon serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and the keeping of one's word. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Shimei's account illustrate the principle of reaping what one sows, and how can this principle be applied in our own lives? 2. In what ways does Solomon's handling of Shimei reflect the balance between justice and mercy, and how can we apply this balance in our interactions with others? 3. What lessons can we learn from Shimei's failure to adhere to the conditions set by Solomon, and how can we ensure we remain obedient to God's commands? 4. How does the relationship between Israel and the Philistines, as seen in the interactions with Achish, inform our understanding of dealing with adversaries in a godly manner? 5. Reflect on a time when you faced consequences for a broken promise. How did that experience shape your understanding of integrity and trustworthiness? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Samuel 16Provides background on Shimei's cursing of David, which sets the stage for his later interactions with Solomon. 1 Kings 2:8-9Solomon's instructions regarding Shimei, highlighting the conditions of his house arrest and the consequences of disobedience. 1 Samuel 27Describes David's time in Gath under King Achish, providing context for the relationship between Israel and the Philistines. People Abiathar, Abishag, Abner, Absalom, Achish, Adonijah, Amasa, Anathoth, Barzillai, Bathsheba, Benaiah, David, Eli, Gera, Haggith, Jehoiada, Jether, Joab, Maacah, Maachah, Ner, Shimei, Solomon, Zadok, ZeruiahPlaces Anathoth, Bahurim, Gath, Hebron, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Kidron, Mahanaim, ShilohTopics Achish, Behold, Declare, Flee, Flight, Gath, Maacah, Ma'acah, Maachah, Pass, Ran, Saying, Servants, Shimei, Shim'e-i, Shimei's, Shim'e-i's, SlavesDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 2:39 5319 fugitives
5524 servants, bad 1 Kings 2:36-45 7240 Jerusalem, history Library The Horns of the Altar
WE MUST tell you the story. Solomon was to be the king after David, but his elder brother, Adonijah, was preferred by Joab, the captain of the host, and by Abiathar, the priest; and, therefore, they got together, and tried to steal a march upon dying David, and set up Adonijah. They utterly failed in this; and when Solomn came to the throne Adonijah was afraid for his life, and fled to the horns of the altar at the tabernacle for shelter. Solomn permitted him to find sanctuary there, and forgave …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 31: 1885"He Ascended into Heaven:" Believe. "He Sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father...
11. "He ascended into heaven:" believe. "He sitteth at the right hand of the Father:" believe. By sitting, understand dwelling: as [in Latin] we say of any person, "In that country he dwelt (sedit) three years." The Scripture also has that expression, that such an one dwelt (sedisse) in a city for such a time. [1791] Not meaning that he sat and never rose up? On this account the dwellings of men are called seats (sedes). [1792] Where people are seated (in this sense), are they always sitting? Is …
St. Augustine—On the Creeds Whether Curiosity Can be About Intellective Knowledge?
Objection 1: It would seem that curiosity cannot be about intellective knowledge. Because, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. ii, 6), there can be no mean and extremes in things which are essentially good. Now intellective knowledge is essentially good: because man's perfection would seem to consist in his intellect being reduced from potentiality to act, and this is done by the knowledge of truth. For Dionysius says (Div. Nom. iv) that "the good of the human soul is to be in accordance with reason," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Angels have Bodies Naturally United to Them?
Objection 1: It would seem that angels have bodies naturally united to them. For Origen says (Peri Archon i): "It is God's attribute alone---that is, it belongs to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as a property of nature, that He is understood to exist without any material substance and without any companionship of corporeal addition." Bernard likewise says (Hom. vi. super Cant.): "Let us assign incorporeity to God alone even as we do immortality, whose nature alone, neither for its own sake …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Natural Law Can be Changed?
Objection 1: It would seem that the natural law can be changed. Because on Ecclus. 17:9, "He gave them instructions, and the law of life," the gloss says: "He wished the law of the letter to be written, in order to correct the law of nature." But that which is corrected is changed. Therefore the natural law can be changed. Objection 2: Further, the slaying of the innocent, adultery, and theft are against the natural law. But we find these things changed by God: as when God commanded Abraham to slay …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants "The King Kissed Barzillai. " 2 Sam. xix. 39
And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and so does David's Lord. I.--LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS. In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land which brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely hospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice, and …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread What Manner of Man Ought not to Come to Rule.
Wherefore let every one measure himself wisely, lest he venture to assume a place of rule, while in himself vice still reigns unto condemnation; lest one whom his own guilt depraves desire to become an intercessor for the faults of others. For on this account it is said to Moses by the supernal voice, Speak unto Aaron; Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, he shall not offer loaves of bread to the Lord his God (Lev. xxi. 17). And it is also immediately subjoined; …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Authorship of the Pentateuch.
The term Pentateuch is composed of the two Greek words, pente, five, and teuchos, which in later Alexandrine usage signified book. It denotes, therefore, the collection of five books; or, the five books of the law considered as a whole. 1. In our inquiries respecting the authorship of the Pentateuch, we begin with the undisputed fact that it existed in its present form in the days of Christ and his apostles, and had so existed from the time of Ezra. When the translators of the Greek version, …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Barzillai
BY REV. GEORGE MILLIGAN, M.A., D.D. "There is nothing," says Socrates to Cephalus in the Republic, "I like better than conversing with aged men. For I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom it is right to learn the character of the way, whether it is rugged or difficult, or smooth and easy" (p. 328 E.). It is to such an aged traveller that we are introduced in the person of Barzillai the Gileadite. And though he is one of the lesser-known characters …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
Text: 1 Peter 3, 8-15. 8 Finally, be ye all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded: 9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11 And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Kings 2:39 NIV1 Kings 2:39 NLT1 Kings 2:39 ESV1 Kings 2:39 NASB1 Kings 2:39 KJV
1 Kings 2:39 Commentaries
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