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.
1 KINGS 2:39KJVWhat does 1 Kings 2:39 mean?
1 Kings 2:39 describes how, after three years, two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Achish, the king of Gath, and Shimei was informed that his servants were now in Gath. This sets up a situation where Shimei learns that his servants have fled to a foreign city ruled by a Philistine king.
In the story, Shimei is a man living in Jerusalem under King Solomon’s orders not to leave the city, as a condition for his life being spared. The verse shows a test of Shimei’s obedience: when his servants escape to Gath, he is faced with the choice of whether to break Solomon’s command by leaving Jerusalem to retrieve them.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 2:39
- שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh, “three”): The verse notes that three years passed before this event, emphasizing a significant period of time and showing that Shimei had kept the restriction for a while.
- עֶבֶד (eved, “servant”): The word refers to Shimei’s household slaves, whose escape triggers the coming conflict.
- גַּת (Gath): This is a Philistine city, highlighting that the servants fled not just out of town, but to a foreign and potentially hostile place, increasing the stakes for Shimei.
Why 1 Kings 2:39 matters
- The verse clarifies that Shimei’s test of loyalty was not immediate but came after a period of apparent compliance, showing that obedience can be challenged unexpectedly.
- By mentioning Gath and King Achish, the verse connects this story to the broader history of Israel’s interactions with the Philistines, adding tension and context.
- This sets up the next part of the narrative, where Shimei’s response to his servants’ escape leads to consequences, fulfilling Solomon’s earlier warning.