In Hebrew this verse begins with the focusing particle sometimes translated “behold” (King James Version, Jewish Publication Version). It focuses the attention of the reader on the next case in a series of cases, both positive and negative, that David wants Solomon to deal with after his death. The events referred to in this verse are recorded in 2 Sam 16.5-13 and 19.16-23. By cursing King David, Shimei had violated the law of Exo 22.28, which says “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”
Shimei the son of Gera: According to 2 Sam 16.5, Shimei is a relative of King Saul. Some have suggested that Gera was an ancestor of Shimei rather than his father. Without any additional evidence, it seems better to understand that Gera is Shimei’s father.
The Benjaminite from Bahurim: In many languages it will be important to add a classifier term to let the readers know that Bahurim is a “town” (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). Bahurim was probably located not too far from Jerusalem on the road going toward the Jordan River, northeast of the Mount of Olives. It may also be helpful to add a classifier to the name “Benjamin.” Bible en français courant, for example, says “in the territory of Benjamin” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch states “from the tribe of Benjamin.”
Who cursed me is literally “and he cursed me.” The presence of the third person pronoun in the Masoretic Text here and at the end of the verse may suggest that a slight emphasis is intended. Anchor Bible, for example, says “he cursed me … But he came down to the Jordan….” The verb cursed does not mean “to swear at,” but conveys rather the idea of wishing that God would do harm to the other person. In some cases it may have to be translated “asked God to make something bad happen to” (see the comments on 2 Kgs 2.24).
A grievous curse is literally “a sickening curse.” Other renderings include “a terrible curse” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), “bitter curses” (New International Version), and “[cursed me] bitterly” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible).
Mahanaim: In Hebrew this name means “two camps” and is associated with Jacob’s wanderings (Gen 32.2). It was probably located on the Jabbok River in the territory of Gilead, which is some considerable distance to the east of the Jordan Valley. Its exact location is, however, not agreed on by all scholars. In languages that require a statement about where David was coming from when he was going to Mahanaim, it will be recalled that he had just left Jerusalem (2 Sam 15.23) and had passed by the Mount of Olives (2 Sam 15.32).
He came down to meet me at the Jordan: Although coming to the Jordan River clearly involved a descent or decrease in elevation, languages differ as to whether it is necessary to make this explicit in translation. Some modern English versions say simply “he met me at the Jordan River” (Good News Translation) or “he came to meet me…” (Contemporary English Version). It is not clear from either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation when Shimei went down to meet David. The account in 2 Sam 19.16-23 makes it clear that David is referring to the time of his return to Jerusalem. For this reason a translation such as “when I returned, he came down to meet me at the edge of the Jordan” (Parole de Vie; similarly Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) more accurately expresses the correct meaning.
I swore to him by the LORD is translated “I swore to him in the Lord’s name” by Knox and “I promised him before the Lord” by New Century Version. For swore see 1 Kgs 1.17, 29. The embedded quotation that follows may be more naturally translated indirectly in many languages (see Good News Translation).
I will not put you to death with the sword: Depending on the context, the Hebrew verb here may mean either “to kill” or “to have [someone] killed.” It seems unlikely that David himself would have done the killing, so Good News Translation says “I would not have him killed.” Good News Translation (also Bible en français courant, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) omits with the sword since “to kill with the sword” in Hebrew sometimes seems to be a fixed phrase that refers to a violent death, not necessarily by means of a sword.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .