The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
The LORD has paid you back for all the bloodshed of Saul's family, whose place you took as king. The LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Look, you're caught in your own evil because you are a man of violence.
This verse shows someone accusing David of being punished by God for violence against Saul's family, claiming his troubles with Absalom are divine payback.
📚 Historical Context
This accusation was made by Shimei, a relative of King Saul, as David fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion. Shimei blamed David for the deaths in Saul's family and saw Absalom's revolt as God's judgment. However, the Bible's broader narrative shows David actually protected Saul's descendants and that Saul's family died through various circumstances, not David's direct violence.
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