II Samuel 16:6 · Bible study
2 Samuel 16:6 Commentary: Shimei's Stones
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Shimei dare to throw stones at David, surrounded by mighty men? This study explores the audacity, geography, and David's humiliation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Shimei's stone-throwing is a contemptuous act of rebellion against David, highlighting both the king's humiliation and the audacity of his enemies.
- Key words: Stones (H68), literal stones used as weapons of contempt; mighty men (H1368), David's elite guard, underscoring the public nature of the insult.
- Main debate: Whether Shimei acts as God's instrument of judgment (as David later interprets) or simply as a vengeful enemy.
- Theological theme: The humiliation of God's anointed king as part of divine discipline and a foreshadowing of Christ's suffering.
- Best use: Teaching on responding to undeserved criticism and trusting God's sovereignty in times of public disgrace.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He cast stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and he stoneth David with stones, and all the servants of king David, and all the people, and all the mighty men on his right and on his left.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people, and all the warriors walked on the right, and on the left side of the king.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y echando piedras contra David, y contra todos los siervos del rey David: y todo el pueblo, y todos los hombres valientes estaban á su diestra y á su siniestra.
E lançando pedras contra Davi, e contra todos os servos do rei Davi: e todo aquele povo, e todos os homens valentes estavam à sua direita e à sua esquerda.
et il jeta des pierres à David et à tous les serviteurs du roi David, tandis que tout le peuple et tous les hommes vaillants étaient à la droite et à la gauche du roi.
und warf David mit Steinen und alle Knechte des Königs David. Denn alles Volk und alle Gewaltigen waren zu seiner Rechten und zur Linken.
En hij wierp David met stenen, mitsgaders alle knechten van den koning David, hoewel al het volk en al de helden aan zijn rechter- en aan zijn linkerhand waren.
e gettando sassi contro Davide, e contro tutti i servi del re Davide, mentre tutto il popolo e tutti gli uomini di valore stavano alla destra e alla sinistra del re.
A ciskał kamieńmi na Dawida, i na wszystkie sługi króla Dawida, choć wszystek lud, i wszystko rycerstwo szło po prawej stronie jego, i po lewej stronie jego.
и бросал камнями на Давида и на всех рабов царя Давида; все же люди и все храбрые были по правую и по левую сторону [царя].
又拿石頭 砍 大衛 王和 王的 臣僕；眾 民 和 勇士 都在王的左 右。
And he sent stones at David and at all the king's servants and at all the people and at all the men of war by his side, on the right hand and on the left.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Samuel 16:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Shimei's stone-throwing was an act of defiant contempt rather than a serious physical threat. The Cambridge Bible notes the scene is described with 'exactness which bespeaks an eye-witness' and calls the behaviour 'impudent audacity.' Gill adds that Shimei cast stones 'to show his contempt' and to imply David deserved stoning for his adultery. Keil and Delitzsch observe that the mention of all the people and the mighty men on David's right and left is a circumstantial clause highlighting the audacity: Shimei dared to stone the king while he was guarded by his elite troops. Matthew Henry contrasts this with David's earlier gullibility toward Ziba, the world's frowns, he says, are less dangerous than its smiles. The stones may not have reached David physically, but they struck at his honour and exposed the depth of his public humiliation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Shimei threw stones at David while David was surrounded by his guards, making the act a brazen public insult and a profound moment of humiliation for the king.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Shimei's motive | Shimei was a Benjaminite from Saul's family, nursing a grievance against David. | Some see Shimei as God's agent sent to humble David (David's own words in v10-11). Others view him as a malicious opportunist acting out of personal hatred. |
| David's response | David refused to retaliate and instead accepted the curse as from the Lord. | Was David's refusal a sign of genuine faith in God's sovereignty, or was it political prudence to avoid more bloodshed and keep his supporters loyal? Interpreters differ. |
| The stone-throwing | The act was intended as a public insult, not necessarily to cause serious injury. | Whether the stones physically struck David or only came near him is not stated; some commentators think the distance made direct hits unlikely, others allow that some may have landed. |
| The role of the mighty men | They were stationed on either side of David as his guard. | Why they did not immediately stop Shimei is explained by David's command (v10), but some question why they did not act before David spoke, showing their discipline or David's authority. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The event takes place at Bahurim, a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, along the road David took when fleeing Absalom's coup. The Cambridge Bible explains that the road ran parallel to a ridge, separated by a deep narrow ravine. Shimei could stand on the opposite slope, within stone's throw but safe from immediate capture. This geography clarifies both Abishai's offer to 'go over' (2 Samuel 16:9) and Shimei's ability to continue throwing stones and dust (2 Samuel 16:13).
Shimei was from the family of Saul, the former king whose house David had supplanted. The bitterness of the Benjaminite clan had simmered for years. Now, with David reduced to a fugitive fleeing his own son, Shimei saw his chance to vent that hatred publicly. His curses (vv. 7, 8) accuse David of bloodguilt, a reference to the deaths of Saul and his sons, though David had not killed them. The 'mighty men' flanking David were his loyal guard, the Gibborim mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:17, 18 as the six hundred Gittites and the Kerethites and Pelethites. Their presence made Shimei's action not only insulting but politically charged: he was mocking a king who still retained overwhelming military force. This scene is one of the lowest points in David's life, coming right after Ziba's deceptive gift (vv. 2, 4) and just before Ahithophel's treason is revealed.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and translations show no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew is stable, and all major English translations follow the same wording.
Reception History
Early Christian writers saw in David's patient endurance a type of Christ, who was mocked and pelted with insults while surrounded by angels (cf. Matthew 26:53). Medieval monastic commentators used this passage to teach the virtue of humility and non-retaliation. During the Reformation, Luther and Calvin noted that even God's anointed king must suffer humiliation, reinforcing the doctrine of the cross. In modern times, the story illustrates the political dimension of David's suffering under Absalom's rebellion and the complex interplay of human malice and divine providence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Depth of David's Humiliation. A king fleeing his son, deceived by a servant, and now pelted with stones by a bitter relative of Saul.
- The Audacity of Shimei. He risks death by attacking a protected king, but his hatred overrides fear. The presence of the guard makes his action brazenly provocative.
- The Restraint of David. David forbids retaliation, trusting God's purposes even in curses. As he says in v. 11, 'Let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has bidden him.'
Five-point outline
- The Setting. Bahurim's ridge and ravine gave Shimei safety while he insulted the king.
- The Stone-throwing. A symbolic act of contempt, not necessarily aiming to injure but to degrade.
- The Guard. All the people and mighty men were on David's right and left, underscoring the public nature of the humiliation.
- The Curse. Shimei's accusation (vv. 7, 8) ties David's suffering to his past sins, though the charge of bloodguilt is misplaced.
- David's Refusal to Strike. David's faith interprets the curse as a message from God, leading him to accept the shame and wait.
Illustration hooks
- A coach being heckled by a spectator while security stands nearby, the heckler knows he can't be reached, so the insult stings more.
- An employee being openly mocked by a coworker in a meeting, with managers present who do nothing, the public silence amplifies the humiliation.
- A parent enduring a teenager's outburst in a crowded store, choosing not to react in order to preserve the relationship.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why didn't David's men stop Shimei immediately? (David commanded them not to.)
- Was Shimei right about David's bloodguilt? (David was not responsible for Saul's death, but he had sinned with Bathsheba and Uriah.)
- What does this teach us about responding to unfair criticism? (David models trust in God's sovereignty, not a passive resignation but an active faith that God sees.)
Leading a Discussion
This scene is uncomfortable. A king on the run, pelted with stones and curses, while his warriors stand by. It raises questions about authority, suffering, and trust in God's hidden hand. Use these questions to help your group engage the text honestly.
Discussion questions
- What details in the narrative stand out to you? Why might the writer include them?
- Shimei risks his life by throwing stones at a surrounded king. What do you think drove him? Was it courage, hatred, or something else?
- David's response (vv. 10, 12) is striking. What does it reveal about his view of God's sovereignty? Is he being faithful or fatalistic?
- The presence of 'all the people and all the mighty men' creates a stark contrast. How does that shape the tension of the scene?
- Compare David's reaction here with his reaction to Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. What has changed in him?
- When have you been publicly humiliated or unfairly criticised? How did you respond, and what might this passage add to your perspective?
- What does this passage teach about God's work in suffering, even suffering that comes through human malice?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The scene's precise details point to an eyewitness account. The road ran parallel to a ridge, separated by a deep narrow ravine, so Shimei was out of easy reach but still within stone-throwing distance. This distance actually made his insults bolder and more audacious.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And he cast stones at Dauid, and at all the seruants of King Dauid: and all the people, and all the men of warre were on his right hande, and on his left.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads Shimei's stone throwing not as a physical attack but as a deliberate act of contempt. Out of effective range, Shimei's gesture implied David and his men deserved stoning, especially pointing to David's adultery. The presence of guards only magnified Shimei's audacity and madness.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that the phrase describing all the people and heroes surrounding David is a circumstantial clause, underscoring how Shimei dared to curse and throw stones at the king despite being surrounded by his full guard. This makes Shimei's attack especially brazen.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights that David recognizes Absalom's rebellion as God's deserved punishment for his own sins. His quiet flight, sending back the ark, and patient endurance of Shimei's curses show a penitent trust in God's sovereign discipline rather than mere political defeat.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that David handled Shimei's curses better than he handled Ziba's flatteries. The curses forced David to pass a right judgment on himself, whereas the flatteries had led him into a wrong judgment on another. The world's frowns, he concludes, are less dangerous than its smiles.