Shimei in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Gershom, son of Levi (1 Chronicles 23:7; 1 Chronicles 23:9-10; 1 Chronicles 6:17; 1 Chronicles 6:29; Numbers 3:18; Zechariah 12:13). (See SHELOMITH (5).) SHIMI in Exodus 6:17. 2. Son of Gera, a Benjamite, of Saul's house; at Bahurim, a marked spot on the way from the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, just within Benjamin; to this point Phaltiel followed Michal (2 Samuel 3:16). When David, fleeing from Absalom, reached the edge of the valley, between the road and Shimei's house, Shimei ran along the ridge over against the road, cursing and throwing stones and dust at him and his mighty men still as he went; and saying, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man and thou man of Belial the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul (referring to his hanging up Saul's sons for the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21, which in time preceded this; also to his general engagement in wars, 1 Chronicles 22:8), and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son, and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man" (2 Samuel 16:5-13). Abishai would have "taken off his head" then and there, as a "dead dog" presuming to "curse the king." But David felt it was Jehovah's doing: "let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him; it may be that the Lord will look on shine affliction, and requite me good for his cursing." An undesigned coincidence between David's language in the history and in the independent psalms, a mark of genuineness (Psalm 109:17; Psalm 109:28, "let them curse, but bless Thou"; Psalm 25:18, "look upon mine affliction," etc.). Shimei wisely was the "first of the house of Joseph" to meet David on his victorious return over Jordan (compare spiritually our wisdom, Luke 14:32). A thousand Benjamites, and Ziba with his 15 sons and 20 servants, were with him. He fell down before the king, confessing his sin and begging David not to "impute iniquity" to him, or remember and take to heart his perversity; spiritually compare Matthew 5:25; Psalm 32:1-6. Again Abishai would have slain Shimei, but David felt his day of restoration to the kingdom was no day for avenging wrongs, and said "thou shalt not die." ...