Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 2:39
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.
39. two of the servants of Shimei ] Shimei appears to have been a man of wealth, both from this circumstance, and from his ability to establish himself in Jerusalem as soon as Solomon commanded him. The servants may have been Philistines.
Achish son of Maachah king of Gath ] The Achish to whom David fled on two occasions (1Sa 21:10; 1Sa 27:2) is called the son of Maoch, which may be only another form of Maachah. But the time which elapsed between David’s flight and the death of Shimei makes it doubtful whether the same man was king still. The same royal names were so frequently carried on in alternate generations that the similarity need not surprise us. So Hannibal was the son of Hamilcar, and Hamilcar the son of a former Hannibal.
they told Shimei ] i.e. Some persons who had come to know of the whereabouts of the servants.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Achish – Possibly the Achish of the marginal reference, but more probably the grandson of the former Achish.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Achish son of Maachah king of Gath; a king, but subject and tributary, first to David, and then to Solomon. This might be either that Achish who showed so much kindness to David, 1Sa 27, 1Sa 28, or his son; who, in requital of this kindness, was still permitted to enjoy the title and honour of a king, but not the full power; whence it was that Achish could not, or durst not, keep these servants, though they had fled to him for protection, but suffered Shimei to take them away from his royal city.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass, at the end of three years,…. He had dwelt at Jerusalem:
that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah king of Gath; and they told Shimei, saying, behold, thy servant [be] in Gath; he being a churlish, ill-natured man, always cursing or beating them, or imposing too hard service upon them, or not allowing them the necessaries of life; wherefore they broke away from him, and fled to Gath, and put themselves under the protection of the king of that place, who was now at peace with Israel, and a tributary to them: if this Achish was the same that was David’s friend, who sheltered him when persecuted by, Saul, he must be an old man; for that was between forty or fifty years ago; and as he seems to be, since he is called the son of Maoch, 1Sa 27:2; which may be thought to be the same with Maachah here.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(39) Achish son of Maachah.In 1Sa. 27:2 we read of Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath; but chronology makes it most unlikely that the same person should here be referred to. The name may have been hereditary.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(39) And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath. (40) And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. (41) And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. (42) And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good. (43) Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with? (44) The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; (45) And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever. (46) So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
The event was just as might be expected. Sinners lay the foundation of their own ruin; and even, as the Psalmist saith, are entrapped in the works of their own hands. And verily do I believe, in the end of the day, every despiser of Jesus and his blessed gospel, will be condemned out of their own mouth, when it will be proved that salvation hath been brought home to their very doors, and proclaimed in their streets, and they have rejected the counsel of God against their own souls. Well might the apostle exclaim, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Heb 2:3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.
Ver. 39. At the end of three years. ] When he might haply hope that Solomon had forgotten him, or did not at least so strictly look to him. God had an overruling hand in it, to bring Shimei to condign punishment.
And they told Shimei.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gath. Sixty-four miles away. Therefore the expression “in the day” must refer to a longer period.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 2993, bc 1011, An, Ex, Is, 480
Achish: 1Sa 21:10, 1Sa 27:2, 1Sa 27:3
Reciprocal: 2Ki 12:17 – against Gath
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 2:39-40. Achish king of Gath A king, but subject and tributary, first to David, and then to Solomon: permitted to enjoy the title and honour of a king, but not the full power: whence it was, that Achish could not keep these servants, though they had fled to him for protection; but suffered Shimei to take them away from his royal city. Shimei arose and went to Gath to seek his servants In three years time he thought Solomon might have forgotten his injunction, or he presumed he would not hold him strictly to it, especially since he did not go from Jerusalem for his pleasure, but to recover what he had lost, which he thought was pardonable, these servants being probably worth a great deal of money. By seeking his servants, says Bishop Hall, he lost himself. These earthly things either are, or should be, our servants. How commonly do we see men run out of the bounds set by Gods laws, to hunt after them, till their souls incur a fearful judgment!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the {s} servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.
(s) Thus God appoints the ways and means to bring his just judgments on the wicked.