5 When King David came to Bahurim , behold , there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei , the son of Gera ; he came out cursing continually as he came . 6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David ; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left . 7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed , "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed , and worthless fellow ! 8 " The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul , in whose place you have reigned ; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom . And behold , you are taken in your own evil , for you are a man of bloodshed !" 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king , "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? Let me go over now and cut off his head ." 10 But the king said , " What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah ? If he curses , and if the Lord has told him, 'Curse David ,' then who shall say , 'Why have you done so ?' " 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants , "Behold , my son who came out from me seeks my life ; how much e more e now this Benjamite ? Let him alone and let him curse , for the Lord has told him. 12 "Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day ." 13 So David and his men went on the way ; and Shimei went along on the hillside e parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. 14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:5-14
Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:5-14
(Read 2 Samuel 16:5-14)
David bore Shimei's curses much better than Ziba's flatteries; by these he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by those to pass a right judgment on himself: the world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Once and again David spared Saul's life, while Saul sought his. But innocence is no defence against malice and falsehood; nor are we to think it strange, if we are charged with that which we have been most careful to keep ourselves from. It is well for us, that men are not to be our judges, but He whose judgment is according to truth. See how patient David was under this abuse. Let this remind us of Christ, who prayed for those who reviled and crucified him. A humble spirit will turn reproaches into reproofs, and get good from them, instead of being provoked by them. David the hand of God in it, and comforts himself that God would bring good out of his affliction. We may depend upon God to repay, not only our services, but our sufferings.