1 Kings 2:44
ESV
The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head.
NIV
The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing.
NASB
The king also said to Shimei, 'You yourself know all the evil that you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your evil on your own head.
CSB
The king also said, "You yourself know all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore, the Lord has brought back your evil on your head,
NLT
The king also said to Shimei, 'You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head.
KJV
The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
NKJV
The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your wickedness on your own head.
What does 1 Kings 2:44 mean?
Using a series of pointed questions with obvious, implied answers, Solomon has asked Shimei to remember their conversation from three years earlier. Shimei swore by the Lord to stay in the city. Solomon warned Shimei that if he left, he would be killed. Shimei agreed to this. So why did Shimei break his oath and disobey his king (1 Kings 2:42–43)?With that final question left hanging, Solomon announces his verdict. The harm Shimei did to David for supporting Absalom's rebellion and cursing David as worthless and illegitimate will now come back on him all these years later (2 Samuel 16:5–8). Solomon insists Shimei acknowledge that all of this is true.
While Shimei threw rocks and curses at David, Abishai, Joab's brother, offered to take off Shimei's head. David stopped him (2 Samuel 16:9–11). It seems David understood that Absalom's rebellion and Shimei's actions might be part of God's judgment for David's crimes against Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:11). David left Shimei's punishment to God: "It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today" (2 Samuel 16:12). This is the day that God will vindicate David's willingness to submissively endure God's judgment.
