2 Samuel 16:6

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) He cast stones.—The road appears to have led along the side of a narrow ravine, on the opposite side of which (see 2Samuel 16:9, “let me go over”) Shimei kept along with the fugitives, out of reach, and yet easily heard, and able to annoy them with stones.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bahurim - See 2 Samuel 3:16 note. It seems to have lain off the road, on a ridge 2 Samuel 16:13, separated from it by a narrow ravine, so that Shimei was out of easy reach though within hearing, and within a stone's throw 2 Samuel 16:6, 2 Samuel 16:9.

Shimei, the son of Gera - In the title to Psalm 7 he is apparently called "Cush the Benjamite." On Gera, see Judges 3:15 note.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2Sa 16:5-19. Shimei Curses David.

5-12. when king David came to Bahurim—a city of Benjamin (2Sa 3:16; 19:16). It is, however, only the confines of the district that are here meant.

Shimei, … a man of the family of Saul—The misfortune of his family, and the occupation by David of what they considered their rightful possessions, afforded a natural, if not a justifiable cause for this ebullition of rude insults and violence. He upbraided David as an ambitious usurper, and charged him, as one whose misdeeds had recoiled upon his own head, to surrender a throne to which he was not entitled. His language was that of a man incensed by the wrongs that he conceived had been done to his house. David was guiltless of the crime of which Shimei accused him; but his conscience reminded him of other flagrant iniquities; and he, therefore, regarded the cursing of this man as a chastisement from heaven. His answer to Abishai's proposal evinced the spirit of deep and humble resignation—the spirit of a man who watched the course of Providence, and acknowledged Shimei as the instrument of God's chastening hand. One thing is remarkable, that he acted more independently of the sons of Zeruiah in this season of great distress than he could often muster courage to do in the days of his prosperity and power.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He cast stones; not so much to hurt them, as to show his contempt of them.

All the people were on his right hand and on his left; which is noted to show the prodigious madness of the man; though rage (which is truly said to be a short madness) and the height of malice hath oft transported men to the most hazardous and desperate speeches and actions.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David,.... Not that he was within the reach of them, or could hurt them, by casting them at them; but this he did to show his contempt of them, and to intimate that they deserved to be stoned, and especially David, at whose adultery he might point by it:

and all the people, and all the mighty men were on his right hand,

and on his left; that is, of David; which is observed, not so much to indicate the safety of David's person, as the impudence and madness of Shimei, to cast stones at David when so guarded.

Geneva Study Bible

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his {d} right hand and on his left.

(d) That is, round about him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. And he cast stones, &c.] The scene is described with an exactness which bespeaks an eye-witness. The road apparently was parallel to a ridge—the “rib” or “side of the hill,” 2 Samuel 16:13—and separated from it by a deep but narrow ravine—“let me go over,” 2 Samuel 16:9—so that Shimei was out of easy reach, though within a stone’s throw of David and his party.

and all the people, &c.] This enhanced the impudent audacity of Shimei’s behaviour.

2 Samuel 16:6

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Shimei's cursing. - 2 Samuel 16:5, 2 Samuel 16:6. When the king had come to Bahurim, on the other side of the Mount of Olives, but not far off (see at 2 Samuel 3:16), there came out of that place a man of the family of the house of Saul, i.e., a distant relation of Saul, cursing him; and he pelted David and all his servants with stones, although all the people and all the heroes (the household troops and body-guard: 2 Samuel 15:17-18) were (marking) on the right and left of the king. The words "all the people," etc., are a circumstantial clause.