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2 Samuel 16:6

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 16:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
2 Samuel 16:6 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And the king said, And where is thy master`s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.
6And 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.
7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow:
8Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art [taken] in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.
9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
← 2 Samuel 16:52 Samuel 16:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David, etc.] 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.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification