Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 2:8

8 And behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahnrim, which cursed me with a grievous curse , in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword .

i. e. In thy power, as that Phrase is o[illegible: 1+ letters]t used.

Or, reproached me with bitter reproaches, 2 Sam. 16. 7, 8. which David could not but deeply resent from him, though, as it was an affliction sent from God, he patiently submitted to it.

Quest. How then could David Lawfully engage Solomon to punish him for it? And did David upon his deathbed bea[illegible: 1+ letters] malice against Shimei? Ans. First, David was not a private person, who might remit such offences without any inconvenience; but a publick Magistrate, who for the honour and maintenance of Goverment was obliged to punish such insolent and opprobrious Speeches, if the necessity of his Affairs had not then engaged him to pass it by. Otherwise it appears from divers passages of the Psalms, and of this History, how free David was from a rancorous and revengeful spirit even towards his Enemies. Secondly, The following advice is not contrary to David's Oath, both because that was onely personal, that David would not kill him either at that time, as Abishai desired him, or whilst he lived; and did not oblige his Successors; and especially, because it was not David's mind that Shimei should be put to death for that fault (as is evident, for then there was no need of Solomon's Wisdom to find out an occasion, but onely of his Justice to punish him for the old crime) but for some other competent crime, which Solomon's Wisdom narrowly prying into all his actions, would easily find out. And if the condition which Solomon imposed upon Shimei, v. 36, 37. seem hard, it must be remembred, that David onely Swore that he would Pardon him as to life, but not that he would exempt him from all punishment or consinement.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 16. 5.; Heb. strong.; 2 Sam. 19. 23.