Theme:
People never forget how you treat them when they are down
Business Application:
Always treat people with respect and dignity
Who he was:
A man from the same clan as the late King Saul. He is infamous for cursing King David and throwing rocks at him as he fled Jerusalem during Absalom’s insurrection. The man tried to make amends when David returned, and the king spared him. However, on his deathbed, David charged Solomon with taking revenge. The ever-wise Solomon confirmed Shimei to the city of Jerusalem. However, the man left the city to chase after two slaves who had run away. Solomon then had him put to death.
Why his story matters:
David went to great lengths to build bridges with Saul’s family, but pockets of resistance remained. When David was at the low point of his career, Shimei’s contempt came to the surface and David never forgot it.
What we can learn from him:
The importance of treating people well when they are down, not adding to their pain or heaping criticism on them.
Where we see his archetype today:
When we find ourselves enjoying seeing the mighty fall; when people reach out for support in a moment of vulnerability and we are repelled; when people are out of work and we avoid them or blame them for their own misfortune.
How we can learn more about him:
Shimei’s story is found in 1 Samuel 16:5-13, 2 Samuel 19:16-23, and 1 Kings 2:8-9, 36-46.