W. B. STEVtNSON.
SHIMEI ('I'cp' ; B Zffieel always, A "Ze/j-ei always except in Samuel and Kings). — 1. Second son of Gershon, Ex 6", Nu 3i8- =', 1 Ch G" 23'- i». In Zee 12'^ ' the family of the Shimeites ' (ipvKTt tov '^vfj.suv) is specified merely as a typical instance of a division of the tribe of Levi, which would mourn apart from the other divisions. In 1 Ch 23" shimei must be a mistake for one of the sons of Libni or Ladan mentioned in the previous verse. 2. ' A man of the family of the house of Saul,' 2 S 16"-" ig's-^s, 1 K 2S- »■ Ssff-. He is called son of Gera, by which it is probably meant that he was descended from Gera, son or grandson of Benjamin (Gn 46-1, 1 Ch 83- "). The incident so graphically described in 2 S 16™- must not be regarded as an isolated outrage committed by an individual acting on a momentary imjmlse. Its true significance will be seen when it is taken in connexion with the rebellion of Sheua a Benjamite (2S 20), which occurred very shortly afterwards. The Benjamitcs never quite forgave David for his having prevailed over the house of Saul ; and later on, when the great schism took place, the most important of the Benjamite towns, such as Bethel and Jericho, sided against the Davidic dynasty. David cer- tainly was not directly responsible for the death either of Abner or of Ishbosheth (2 S 3" 4"), but his complicity in their murders may very possibly have been suspected by Saul's adherents. It would be remembered, too, that David's men had origin- ally formed a division of the Philistine army ( 1 S 28' 29-) that killed Saul and his three sons, and more recently seven of Saul's sons had been sacrificed ly the Gibeonites with David's sanction (2 S 21').
When the king was returning in triumph, Shimei was among the first to greet him, ' the first of all the house of Joseph.' Josephus (^In/. VII. xi. 2) says that he assisted Ziba and the men of Judah in laying a bridge of boats over the river Jordan. In any case he poured forth an abject apology for his past misconduct, and obtained a promise that his life would not be forfeited for it. As David's strong sense of submission to God's will had previously made him restrain Abishai
from taking sunmiary vengeance on the insulter, so now, realizing that by the mercy of God he was beginning his reign afresh, he felt that it was fitting that the occasion should be marked by the customary exhibition of royal clemency (cf. 1 S 11", 2 K 25-''). Perhaps David never forgot that ' grievous curse,' every letter of which was signifi- cant, as was afterwards said (Jerome, Qu. Hcb.), or forgave the utterer of it; and a Iate(?) wTiter in 1 K 2 records that years afterwards he recalled it in his dying charge to Solomon, and bade him devise some means whereby Shimei's hoar head might be brought down to the grave with blood.
This narrative, if talien as historical (which Wellh., Stade, and otliera deny it to be), has given rise to much discussion. It has often been urged that, in acting as he did, David 'kept the word of promise to the ear, and broke it to the hope.' Let it at once be acknowledged that the spirit of David, if he gave the charge ascribed to him, was not that of Christ. Is there not an anachronism involved in the supposition that it should be ? But, even apart from that, it does not seem likely that David's promise, as recorded by the historian, • Thou shalt not die," or, as recollected by himself. ' I will not put thee to death with the sword' (* non te interticiam gladio sed lingua,' Jerome, Qu. Hfb.), could have been understood by Shimei as an un- conditional one : and in fact, however strongly we may con- demn Dand's unforgiving spirit, it cannot be denied that Shimei's execution was solely due to his own folly. ' His blood was upon his own head.' It should be noted tbiit, in the agree- ment that Solomon made with him, ' the brook Kidron ' (1 K 237) is to be understood as meaning the city boundaries in any direc- tion. Shijiiei would not cross the Kidron when going to Gath.
3. An eminent man who remained loyal to David when Adonijah rebelled (1 K 1'). It is very uncertain who he was. Jos. (Ant. VII. xiv. 4) vaguely calls him ' David's friend.' Jerome (Qa. lleb. in loc.) identifies him with No. 2. Other con- jectures are that he was the same as No. 4 or No. S.
4. A brother of Davnd (2 S 2P'), otherwise known as Shammah (1 S 16» 17"), Shimeah (2 S 13'), and Shimea (1 Ch 2" 20'). 5. The son of Ela, one of Solomon's commissariat ofticers. His district was Benjamin (1 K 4'*). 6. Brother of Zerubbabel (1 Ch 3'", B om.). 7. Apparently grandson of Simeon (lCh4-*-"). He had six- teen sons and six daughters, and is specially noted as having been the most prolific of^ all his tribe. 8. A Reubenite, son of Joel (1 Ch 5''. A has 'Zeixelv in the first occurrence of the name) ; possibly the same as Shema in v.* 9. B 2o/iei, a Levite, son of Merari (1 Ch 6^). 10. A Levite, in the pedi- gree of Asaph, David's precentor (1 Ch 6^). He ia omitted in v.'". 11. A Benjamite chief, 1 Ch 8^'. See Shema, No. 2. 12. B 'E/xeci, son of Jeduthun, who gave his name to the tenth course of Levites (1 Ch 25"). His name is omitted in MT of v.», but the LXX has it there after ' Jeshaiah.' 13. The Kamathite (1 Ch 27"'), one of David's officers. He was ' over the vineyards.' 14. A Levite ' of the sons of Heman,' in the reign of Hezekiah (2 Ch 21)'*) ; one of those who took a leading part in the purification of the temple. Perhaps the same person is meant in 2 Ch 31"", where he is the second Levitical superintendent over the ' oblations and tithes ' which were stored in the house of the Lord. IS. A Levite (Ezr 10^ BA lafioii, x SaMoi/J ; 1 Es 9^ Semeis). 16. A lavman ' of the sons of llashum ' (Ezr 10«', 1 Es g'-^Semei). 17. A layman 'of the sons of Bani ' (Ezr lU^, 1 Es 9" Soroeis). These last three are in the list of those who married foreign wives. 18. A Benjamite in the pedigree of Mordecai (Est 2»), called in Ail. Est 11' Semeias. N. J. D. White.