Who is…
Shimei

Hebrew: שִׁמְעִי —transliteration: Shimi —possible meaning: famous

also known as: Shim′e-i, Shim‘i, Shimi, Shimhi, and Shema

Shimei is the name of various Israelite men.

  1. Shimei, a son of Gershon

    He was a grandson of Levi (Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17, 29).

    His name is spelled “Shimi” in Exodus 6:17.

  2. Shimei, a Benjamite of the house of King Saul

    He stoned and cursed David when the king reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem when Prince Absalom led a rebellion against him (2 Samuel 16:5-13).

    After the defeat of Absalom, Shimei “came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer homage to the king” (19:16-23).

    David forgave him, but on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions regarding Shimei, of whose fidelity he seems to have been in doubt (1 Kings 2:8-9).

    Shimei was put to death at the command of King Solomon, because he had violated his word by leaving Jerusalem and going to Gath to recover two of his servants who had escaped (36-46).

  3. Shimei, one of King David's mighty men

    He refused to acknowledge Adonijah as David's successor (1 Kings 1:8). He is probably the same person who is called elsewhere (4:18) “the son of Elah.”

  4. Shimei, a son of Pedaiah in the royal line of King David

    He is the brother of Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:19).

  5. Shimei, a Simeonite

    1 Chronicles 4:26-27

  6. Shimei, a Reubenite

    1 Chronicles 5:4

  7. Shimei, a Levite of the family of Gershon

    1 Chronicles 6:42

  8. Shimei, a Ramathite

    He was in charge of the vineyards of King David (1 Chronicles 27:27).

    See: Ramah (Rama)

  9. Shimei, one of the sons of Heman

    He assisted in the purification of the temple (2 Chronicles 29:14).

  10. Shimei, brother of Cononiah (Conaniah), a Levite

    He and his brother were in charge of the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things given to the house of God (2 Chronicles 31:12-13).

  11. Shimei, another Levite

    Ezra 10:23

  12. Family of Shimei

    “The family of Shimei” (Zechariah 12:13 KJV), is translated differently in the Revised King James Version, the ESV and NASB: “the family of the Shimeites”. They were the descendants of Shimei.

Article Version: July 12, 2019