In order to emphasize that Shimei was going to receive the penalty demanded by divine as well as human justice, Solomon pressed upon Shimei’s conscience his previous crime of rebellious violence against King David. Shimei had cursed David (a capital offence) and pelted the king with rocks, dust, and sticks (2 Samuel 16:1–23). By doing this, Shimei had encouraged his tribe of Benjamin, if no one else, to join in Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 19:16).
Solomon stressed the point that Shimei was well aware of this act of treason and rebellion, and now Solomon said the Lord is executing his retribution upon Shimei through Solomon’s punishment. This fact is true, even though, in another sense, Shimei’s willful disobedience had brought his execution on his own head.
Solomon’s procedure here was an illustration of an important point in the exercise of punishment or chastisement. The ones being punished or chastened should, as far as it is possible, be made to understand the justice in what they receive. If this is not done, it increases the possibility that they will view themselves as innocent martyrs. Much of the work of Israel’s prophets was this very work of showing Israel its guilt before God’s judgment fell upon them (Amos 9:1–15; Jeremiah 32:26–35).
44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the LORD will bring back your harm on your own head.