2 Samuel 19:23

2Sa 19:23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

Ver. 23. Thou shalt not die.] Quod me attingit tibi condono; et facti iudicium aliis relinquo: I pardon thee for my part, and leave others to judge of thy fact, and to deal with thee as is meet, for thy future offences. Thou shalt not die ex meo iussu, et iam, {a} by my command, and at this time.

{a} Piscat.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19:23 David’s oath of protection was not binding on David’s heir, Solomon, who later ordered Shimei’s execution for far less serious crimes (1 Kgs 2:36-46).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

By my hands, or during my life, as read 1 Kings 2:8, 9.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(23) The king sware unto him.—This oath of David assuring immunity to Shimei brings to mind his dying charge to Solomon concerning him (1Ki_2:8-9): “His hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.” The whole transaction is to be viewed from a political point. Shimei had been guilty of high treason in David’s distress; at his return he had confessed his fault, and exerted himself to help on David’s restoration to the throne. He had accordingly been pardoned, and David, somewhat rashly, had confirmed this pardon with an oath, in such a way that he was unable to punish any subsequent treasonable tendencies showing themselves in Shimei. From the character of the man, however, and from Solomon’s address to him in 1Ki_2:44, it is plain that he remained thoroughly disloyal. David saw this, and hindered by his oath from treating him as he deserved, pointed out the case to Solomon. Solomon settled the matter by a compact (into which Shimei willingly entered), that his life should be forfeited whenever he should go out of Jerusalem. There he was under supervision; elsewhere he could not be trusted. After a few years he violated this condition, and was executed. David had made a rash oath, and observed it to the letter, but no farther, towards a thorough traitor.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23. the king sware unto him] David cannot be acquitted of breaking the spirit if not the letter of his oath by the charge which he gave to Solomon (1Ki_2:8 ff.).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, thou shalt not die,.... This day by my hands, or order, or by the sword, Kg1 2:8,

and the king sware unto him; that he should not die for that offence, or for that only; but if he committed a new one, this oath was no longer binding on him, and not at all upon his heir and successor.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Die, during my life, (Menochius) or by my hand, without some farther transgression. Hence the oath is worded, I will not kill thee with the sword, 3 Kings ii. 8. (Haydock) --- Solomon was charged not to let his crime pass unpunished. But he did not kill him till he had shewed his disobedience. (Calmet) --- The oaths of parents do not always (Haydock) pertain to their heirs. (Grotius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Thou shalt not die, to wit, this day, as Abishai desireth; nor whilst I live, nor by my hands, as it is repeated and explained, 1Ki 2:8; nor for this cause alone. For though David gave order to Solomon for his punishment after his death; nor was it fit for the public good that such a horrid crime should go unpunished; yet he would not have him punished for this fault alone, but for some other capital crime, which he presumed Shimei’s temper would easily betray him to, and Solomon’s deep wisdom would easily find out, 1Ki 2:9.

The king sware unto him, that he would not put him to death with the sword, as it is expressed, 1Ki 2:8.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. The king sware unto him — That during his reign he should not be put to death. But he charged Solomon to bring his hoary head to the grave with blood. 1Ki_2:8-9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The king sware unto him. David"s magnanimity was not the result merely of policy, but also of joyful feeling at seeing all the tribes so readily welcome him back to the throne. But in spite of his oath, he orders Solomon to execute him, regarding what he had done as a sin past forgiveness. In so doing we can hardly acquit David of breaking his oath, even granting that Shimei"s repentance was insincere, and that the motive of his actions was the desire simply to save his life. But we must remember that our Lord described his injunction, "that ye love one another," as "a new commandment"; (Joh_13:34) and the utmost that can be said in David"s favour is that his character was generous and full of chivalry. A half excuse may be found for his order in the supposition that Shimei was an inveterate conspirator, and dangerous to Solomon"s peace. This view seems confirmed by the command given to Shimei to build a house at Jerusalem, (1Ki_2:36) where he would always be under surveillance. But had not David himself praised the man who "sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not"? (Psa_15:4)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Should a man die today? This is a question. Because today I am [truly] king. Until now I thought A great man as this [Shimi] would not have shamed me unless God had decreed to end my kingdom, and He had told him, 'Curse Dovid.' But now that he regrets it I know that I am [truly] king.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.