2 Samuel 16:8 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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. {behold...: Heb. behold thee in thy evil}”

2 Samuel 16:8

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

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.

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: {bloody...: Heb. man of blood}

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. {behold...: Heb. behold thee in thy evil}

Then 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.

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

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From This Chapter

2 Samuel 16:1

"And when David was a little past the top {of the hill}, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred {loaves} of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine."

2 Samuel 16:2

"And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses {be} for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink."

2 Samuel 16:3

"And 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 shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father."

2 Samuel 16:4

"Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine {are} all that {pertained} unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee {that} I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. {I humbly...: Heb. I do obeisance}"

2 Samuel 16:5

"And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name {was} Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. {he came forth...: or, he still came forth and cursed}"

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."

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