Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
So the king said to Shimei, 'You will not die.' And the king made a solemn promise to him.
King David is showing mercy by promising Shimei that he won't be executed for his past wrongs.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David is returning to Jerusalem after defeating his son Absalom's rebellion, a time of great turmoil and reconciliation for the nation of Israel. Earlier, during David's flight from Jerusalem, a man named Shimei from the tribe of Benjamin had publicly cursed and thrown stones at David, an act of insult and treason. Now, as David crosses the Jordan River, Shimei begs for mercy, and David chooses to spare his life, demonstrating restraint and forgiveness in the midst of political instability.
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