1 Kings 2:36
ESV
Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever.
NIV
Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.
NASB
Now the king sent men and summoned Shimei, and said to him, 'Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not leave there for any other place.
CSB
Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but don’t leave there and go anywhere else.
NLT
The king then sent for Shimei and told him, 'Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don’t step outside the city to go anywhere else.
KJV
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
NKJV
Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere.
What does 1 Kings 2:36 mean?
David gave Solomon specific instructions about two men who had committed capital offenses. David personally forgave these men, but they still needed to be brought to justice by a disinterested third party. Solomon has executed the first, Joab (1 Kings 2:5–6, 28–35). It's time to at least contain the second, a family member of Saul's named Shimei.David's instructions to Solomon regarding Shimei's concern for justice for his crimes against God and the crown, not vengeance. Shimei was a powerful and influential man from the tribe of Benjamin who lived close to Jerusalem. When David passed through Bahurim while fleeing from Absalom's coup attempt, Shimei loudly cursed David, saying that God was holding David accountable for the blood of his kinsmen: King Saul and Saul's sons. David refused to allow his soldiers to kill the man for his attack on the king in case God had instructed him (2 Samuel 16:5–12).
After David had defeated Absalom and made his way back to the Jordan River, Shimei demonstrated both contrition and influence. He brought a thousand Benjaminites to meet David. Shimei sought David's forgiveness and offered aid. Once again, David's men offered to kill Shimei for his earlier curses against the king. After all, a powerful man like Shimei might eventually put together his own coup against David. David still refused (2 Samuel 19:16–23).
David's instructions to Solomon made it clear that he had not fully pardoned Shimei. He did not trust the Benjaminites not to rouse his people to take the throne from Solomon in the name of Saul. David urged Solomon to use his wisdom to deal with Shimei (1 Kings 2:8–9).
Solomon does so now by summoning Shimei and commanding him to move away from his home, build a house for himself in Jerusalem, and stay there. Solomon doesn't seem eager to have the man executed. Yet he needs to isolate him from using influence over Benjamin to stir up resistance against Solomon. So, the king chooses a version of house arrest to keep this potential enemy neutralized.
