<strong>SHIMEI</strong> (shĭm'ē-ī, Heb. <em>shim‘î, famous</em>)<br /><br />

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<strong>SHIMEI</strong> <strong>shĭm’ ĭ ī</strong> (<span class="hebrew">שִׁמְעִ֣י</span>, <span class="hebrew">שֶׁ֔מַע</span>, <span class="hebrew">שִׁמְעָא</span>, prob. <em>hear me.</em> LXX, <span class="greek">Σεμεεί</span>). A name appearing frequently throughout the OT. A popular family name used widely by the Levites. Before and after the Exile it was used at least six times.<br /><br />

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2. The great-grandson of Merari and son of Libni (<bibleref ref="1Chr.6.29">6:29</bibleref>). Since Gershom and Merari were brothers Shimei (1) was a relative of Shimei (2).

3. A Levite, one of the six sons of Jeduthun who was appointed by David and the chiefs to prophesy with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord (<bibleref ref="1Chr.25.3">25:3</bibleref>).

4. A Levite, who with twelve sons and brethren, was among the 288 singers under Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. They were appointed to the tenth order (<bibleref ref="1Chr.25.17">25:17</bibleref>).<br /><br />

5. A Levite, a descendant of Heman, the musician, who was one of those who aided Hezekiah in the cleansing of the Temple during his reform (<bibleref ref="2Chr.29.14">2 Chron 29:14</bibleref>). When the people began to bring the tithes and dedicated articles into the Temple, Hezekiah appointed Shimei with his brother, Conaniah, as the chief officers to receive them. The close association of the two Shimeis in the text suggests that they were the same person (<bibleref ref="2Chr.29.14">2 Chron 29:14</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="2Chr.31.12">31:12</bibleref>).<br /><br />

6. A Levite, in the time of Ezra, who put away his foreign wife during Ezra’s reform (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.23">Ezra 10:23</bibleref>).

The best-known Bible personality of this name is the Benjaminite, the son of Gera of Saul’s family, who met David at Bahurim in his flight from Absalom and cursed him (<bibleref ref="2Sam.16.5">2 Sam 16:5</bibleref>). David’s flight took him past a place from which Shimei could hurl stones as well as ugly words at the fleeing king (<bibleref ref="2Sam.16.6">16:6</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="2Sam.16.7">7</bibleref>). David’s men offered to silence the insolent Benjaminite but the king refused, believing that Jehovah would take note of the affliction he suffered under the tormenting tongue of Saul’s house. A bit of the king’s faith (or theology) showed itself in his response. God would reward such suffering with good, and he needed divine support right then more than he needed peace with Saul’s house (<bibleref ref="2Sam.16.11">16:11</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="2Sam.16.12">12</bibleref>).

With the turn of events which brought deliverance to David and his faithful followers, Shimei found it necessary to reverse his former behavior. As David returned to Jerusalem Shimei, with a thousand Benjaminites, met him at the <span class="auto-link">[[Jordan River]]</span> and, in great humility and penance, pleaded for mercy (<bibleref ref="2Sam.19.16-2Sam.19.23">2 Sam 19:16-23</bibleref>). David restrained his men from seeking vengeance and assured the trembling Benjaminite that he would not be put to death.<br /><br />

Shimei’s fate was determined by his own response to Solomon’s restrictions. Before his death David instructed Solomon to see to it that Shimei received the punishment befitting his deeds. Solomon brought Shimei to Jerusalem and warned him that he would be put to death if he ever left the city. Things went well for Shimei for three years, but when his slaves ran away he left the city to retrieve them. Upon his return, Solomon carried out the threatened penalty; Shimei was slain (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.42-1Kgs.2.46">1 Kings 2:42-46</bibleref>).<br /><br />

C. The brother of David, and father of Jonathan, who slew a giant Philistine taunting David’s forces at Gob (<bibleref ref="2Sam.21.19-2Sam.21.21">2 Sam 21:19-21</bibleref>). This brother of David is called Shammah in <bibleref ref="1Sam.16.9">1 Samuel 16:9</bibleref>.

D. A Benjaminite, the son of Ela, who was appointed by Solomon from the tribe of Benjamin to provide food for the royal household (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.4.18">1 Kings 4:18</bibleref>). By the appointment Shimei became one of the twelve officers whose task it was to provide supplies one month of the year. If this appointment was a reward for faithful service under David, this Shimei is the same man who with Rei remained faithful to David in Adonijah’s attempt to usurp the throne and prevent Solomon from coming to power (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.1.8">1:8</bibleref>).<br /><br />

E. A descendant of Solomon, the son of Pedaiah and the brother of Zerubabbel (<bibleref ref="1Chr.3.19">1 Chron 3:19</bibleref>). It was Zerubabbel who with Joshua returned from Babylon in 538 <span class="small-caps">b.c.</span> to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. Shimei was also a descendant of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) who was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.<br /><br />

F. A Simeonite, the son of Zaccur, living in Beer-sheba in the time of David. His chief claim to distinction was his very large family which found the villages of Judah insufficient to meet their needs. In the days of Hezekiah this group of Simeonites went to Mt. Seir, destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites and dwelt there (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.26-1Chr.4.43">1 Chron 4:26-43</bibleref>).<br /><br />

G. A descendant of Reuben and a son of Gad (<bibleref ref="1Chr.5.4">5:4</bibleref>).

H. The head of a house in the tribe of Benjamin (<bibleref ref="1Chr.8.21">8:21</bibleref>). The KJV has <span class="small-caps">Shimhi</span>, but the Heb. has the usual <span class="hebrew">שִׁמְעִ֣י</span>, however, the Heb. for <bibleref ref="1Chr.8.13">1 Chronicles 8:13</bibleref> has <span class="hebrew">שֶׁ֔מַע</span> which may be a variant of the more popular <span class="hebrew">שִׁמְעִ֣י</span>. The Shema of <bibleref ref="1Chr.8.13">1 Chronicles 8:13</bibleref> was a head of his father’s house, with his home in Aijalon, while his descendants lived in Jerusalem (<bibleref ref="1Chr.8.28">1 Chron 8:28</bibleref>).<br /><br />

I. A man of Judah, designated as the “Ramathite” whom David placed over his vineyards (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.27">1 Chron 27:27</bibleref>).

J. A son of Hashum but not a Levite, who in the time of Ezra put away his foreign wife (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.33">Ezra 10:33</bibleref>). Both he and Shimei, the son of Binnui are listed among “the men of Israel” who participated in Ezra’s reform (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.38">10:38</bibleref>).

K. A Benjaminite, a descendant of Kish and grandfather of Mordecai who played a prominent role in the <span class="auto-link">[[Book of Esther]]</span> (<bibleref ref="Esth.2.5">Esth 2:5</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Esth.2.6">6</bibleref>).

<h2>Bibliography</h2>

H. P. Smith, <em>OT History</em>, 149.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

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(1) A family name among the Levites before and after the exile, at least five of whom bore it:<br /><br />

(a) Son of Gershon and grandson of Levi (<bibleref ref="Exod.6.17">Ex 6:17</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Num.3.18">Nu 3:18</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.6.17">1Ch 6:17</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.23.7">23:7</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="1Chr.23.10">10</bibleref>). The text of 1 Chronicles 6 and 23 is corrupt, making difficult the tracing of the various genealogies and the identification of the several Shimeis. Evidently that of 23:9 is a scribe’s error for one of the four sons of Ladan or Libni, whose names are given in the preceding verse.

(b) An ancestor of Asaph the musician (<bibleref ref="1Chr.6.42">1Ch 6:42</bibleref>), possibly the same as (a) above, Jahath the son of South (compare <bibleref ref="1Chr.23.10">1Ch 23:10</bibleref>) being by a copyist’s error transposed so as to read as if he were the father of South

(c) A descendant of the Merarite branch of the Levites (<bibleref ref="1Chr.6.29">1Ch 6:29</bibleref>).

(d) One of the 288 trained singers in the service of the sanctuary under Asaph (<bibleref ref="1Chr.25.17">1Ch 25:17</bibleref>).

(e) One of the Levites who helped to cleanse the Temple in Hezekiah’s reformation (<bibleref ref="2Chr.29.14">2Ch 29:14</bibleref>). He was a descendant of Heman the musician. Hezekiah afterward appointed him with Conaniah to have chief oversight of "the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things" which were brought into the chambers of Yahweh’s house prepared for them (<bibleref ref="2Chr.31.11">2Ch 31:11</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="2Chr.31.12">12</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(f) A Levite who under Ezra put away his foreign wife (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.23">Ezr 10:23</bibleref>), "Semeis" in 1 Esdras 9:23.<br /><br />

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The king spared his life; but shortly before his death charged his son Solomon to see that due punishment should come to Shimei for his sins: "Thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood" (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.9">1Ki 2:9</bibleref>). When he came to the throne Solomon summoned Shimei and bade him build a house in Jerusalem, to which he should come and from which he must not go out on pain of death (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.36-1Kgs.2.38">1Ki 2:36-38</bibleref>). Feeling secure after some years, Shimei left his home in Jerusalem to recapture some escaped slaves (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.39-1Kgs.2.41">1Ki 2:39-41</bibleref>), and in consequence he was promptly dispatched by that gruesome avenger of blood, the royal executioner, "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada," who "fell upon him," as he had upon Adonijah and Joab, "so that he died" (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.46">1Ki 2:46</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(3) Another Benjamite, mentioned with Rei as an officer in the king’s bodyguard, who was faithful to David in the rebellion of Adonijah (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.1.8">1Ki 1:8</bibleref>). Josephus reads Rei as a common noun, describing Shimei as "the friend of David." He is to be identified with the son of Elah (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.4.18">1Ki 4:18</bibleref>), whom Solomon, probably because of his fidelity, named as one of the 12 chief commissary officers appointed over all Israel, "who provided victuals for the king and his household."

(4) A man of some prominence in the tribe of Benjamin (<bibleref ref="1Chr.8.21">1Ch 8:21</bibleref>), whose home was in Aijalon, where he was a "head of fathers’ houses" (<bibleref ref="1Chr.8.13">1Ch 8:13</bibleref>); but his descendants lived in Jerusalem (<bibleref ref="1Chr.8.28">1Ch 8:28</bibleref>). In the King James Version he is called "Shimhi"; in <bibleref ref="1Chr.8.13">1Ch 8:13</bibleref> he is called "Shema."<br /><br />

(5) Another Benjamite, an ancestor of Mordecai (<bibleref ref="Esth.2.5">Es 2:5</bibleref>), "Semeias" in <span class="auto-link">[[Additions to Esther]]</span> 11:2.<br /><br />

(6) A brother of David (<bibleref ref="2Sam.21.21">2Sa 21:21</bibleref>, the King James Version "Shimeah"); in <bibleref ref="1Sam.16.9">1Sa 16:9</bibleref> he is called "Shammah"; compare "Shimeah," "Shimea."

(7) A man of Judah, called "the Ramathite," who was "over the vineyards" in David’s reign (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.27">1Ch 27:27</bibleref>).

(8) A Simeonite living in the time of David (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.26">1Ch 4:26</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.27">27</bibleref>), whose chief claim to distinction was that he was father of 16 sons and 6 daughters. The descendants of such a numerous progeny, not being able to maintain themselves in their ancestral home in Beer-sheba, in the days of Hezekiah fell upon Gerar, and dispossessed "the sons of Ham" (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.39">1Ch 4:39</bibleref>, the Septuagint), and upon Mt. Seir, driving out the Amalekites (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.43">1Ch 4:43</bibleref>).<br /><br />

(9) A man of Reuben, son of Gog (<bibleref ref="1Chr.5.4">1Ch 5:4</bibleref>).

(10), (11) Two men of "Israel," i.e. not priests or Levites, one "of the sons of Hashum" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.33">Ezr 10:33</bibleref>), the other "of the sons of Bani" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.38">Ezr 10:38</bibleref>), who put away their foreign wives at Ezra’s command, in 1 Esdras called respectively "Semei" (9:33) and "Someis" (9:34).<br /><br />

(12) A brother of Zerubbabel (<bibleref ref="1Chr.3.19">1Ch 3:19</bibleref>).

The Shimeites were descendants of Shimei, grandson of Levi; compare (1) (a) above (<bibleref ref="Num.3.21">Nu 3:21</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Zech.12.13">Zec 12:13</bibleref>).