342 THE KING'S MIRROR 



to him after that deed was done. Still, if I may, I should 

 like to ask you to point out how righteous dooms are 

 worked out, in order that I may understand more 

 clearly, and others too who may hear it, how Solomon 

 could execute Shimei by righteous decree, when his 

 father David had already forgiven him the offence.* 



Father. Solomon did this out of regard for justice 

 rather than from cruelty, and for the following reasons. 

 When Shimei cursed David, he did it out of impudence 

 and malice, and for no just cause; but when he begged 

 David for mercy, he asked it more because of fear than 

 of repentance, for he was afraid that David would take 

 his life as the sacred law demanded. But when he im- 

 plored mercy David replied in these words: "I shall 

 not slay you this time, since you implore my grace; but 

 keep in mind that you will be punished for this deed, 

 unless you atone in true repentance." In these words 

 David pointed out to Shimei that he ought to atone 

 with loving friendship for the words that he had spoken 

 in sheer hatred. Shimei, however, lived the rest of his 

 days in such a manner that, while no one found him 

 to cherish enmity toward David, it never appeared that 

 he made returns in friendship for David's mercy in per- 

 mitting him to live when the law demanded his death. 

 But when he came before Solomon after David's death, 

 the king said to him: "Remember, Shimei, that you 

 cursed the Lord's anointed; and it has not appeared 

 that you have truly regretted it since. But this shall be 

 a covenant between us as a reminder to repentance on 



* The story of Shimei is told in // Samuel, xvi, 5-8; xix, 16-23; I Kings, ii. 

 8-9, 36-46. 



