Sarah
David was really having a rough time at this point.
His own son Absalom had rebelled against him and taken the kingdom. David had no choice but to run for his life with his people.
When they came to a place called Bahurim, they had barely gone very far when a man suddenly came out.
His name was Shimei, and he was from the family of Saul.
The moment Shimei saw David, he started cursing him:
“Hey, David! You rotten man! Look at you now! You finally got what was coming to you!”
David’s people heard that and thought, “Oh, come on! How can he talk to the king like that?”
But Shimei didn’t just talk.
He walked alongside David, throwing stones at David and his servants and kicking up dust at them.
Basically, he was saying:
“You thought you were so powerful when you were king, huh? Well, look at you now! How does it feel? You’re getting what you deserve!”
And the more he talked, the more worked up he got:
“You murderer!
You spilled the blood of Saul’s family, didn’t you?
Well, look at you now!
The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom!
This trouble you’re in—you brought it on yourself!”
When Abishai heard this, he got fired up immediately.
He said to David:
“My king, how can this guy get away with talking to you like this?
Who does he think he is? He’s nothing but a dead dog!
Just give me the word, and I’ll go over there and cut his head off!”
If this had been most people, they probably would have said:
“Go ahead! Deal with him!”
But David didn’t.
Instead, David said:
“Abishai, leave him alone.
Let him curse me.
Think about it. My own son is trying to take my life.
If even my own son is treating me like this, should I really kill a Benjaminite just because he is cursing me?
Let him be. Let him say whatever he wants.”
David was deeply hurt by everything that was happening.
But he also thought:
“Maybe the LORD has allowed this to happen.
Maybe the LORD sees my suffering.
Maybe because this man is cursing me today, the LORD will see my trouble and show me kindness.”
So David did not allow Abishai to kill Shimei.
David and his people continued down the road.
And Shimei?
He still wouldn’t quit.
He followed David along the hillside.
He kept cursing.
He kept throwing stones.
He kept kicking up dust.
The whole scene was seriously frustrating.
David and all the people with him were already exhausted from running away.
They were tired, worn out, and under tremendous pressure.
Finally, they reached a place where everyone was completely worn out.
“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s stop here and get some rest.”
So David and all the people with him stopped there and rested.