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.

1 KINGS 2:40KJV
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1 Kings 2:40 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 2:40 mean?

1 Kings 2:40 describes how Shimei got up, prepared his donkey, and traveled to the Philistine city of Gath to retrieve his servants who had run away. The verse shows Shimei actively leaving Jerusalem, despite earlier restrictions placed on him by King Solomon.

In the story, King Solomon had told Shimei not to leave Jerusalem on penalty of death, but when Shimei’s servants fled to Gath, Shimei decided to go after them anyway. This verse highlights Shimei’s choice to break Solomon’s command, setting up the consequences that follow in the next verses.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 2:40

  • "arose" (קוּם, qum): This word often means to get up or take action, emphasizing that Shimei made a deliberate decision to act.
  • "saddled" (חָבַשׁ, chavash): This verb means to prepare a donkey for travel, showing Shimei’s readiness and intention to make the journey himself.
  • "seek" (בָּקַשׁ, baqash): This word means to search for or pursue, highlighting that Shimei was determined to recover his servants, even at personal risk.
  • "Gath" (גַּת, Gat): Naming the Philistine city underlines that Shimei left Israelite territory, which was specifically forbidden by Solomon’s earlier command.

Why 1 Kings 2:40 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Shimei’s actions were not accidental or forced; he knowingly broke Solomon’s specific order by leaving Jerusalem.
  • The mention of Gath and Achish connects this event to earlier biblical stories involving Philistine cities, showing ongoing interactions between Israel and its neighbors.
  • Understanding Shimei’s deliberate choice helps explain why Solomon later holds him accountable, making the consequences in the following verses more understandable.

Where else these words appear

“Achish” Hebrew H397 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Samuel 21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
  • 1 Samuel 27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
  • 1 Samuel 28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

“saddled” Hebrew H2280 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
  • 1 Kings 13:23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
  • Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

“Gath” Hebrew H1661 · used in 31 verses

  • Joshua 11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.

“Shimei” Hebrew H8096 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 6:17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
  • 1 Kings 2:38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
  • 1 Chronicles 8:21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;