5 'And also, thou hast known that which he did to me—Joab son of Zeruiah—that which he did to two heads of the hosts of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether—that he slayeth them, and maketh the blood of war in peace, and putteth the blood of war in his girdle, that 'is' on his loins, and in his sandals that 'are' on his feet; 6 and thou hast done according to thy wisdom, and dost not let his old age go down in peace to Sheol. 7 'And to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite thou dost do kindness, and they have been among those eating at thy table, for so they drew near unto me in my fleeing from the face of Absalom thy brother. 8 'And lo, with thee 'is' Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, and he reviled me—a grievous reviling—in the day of my going to Mahanaim; and he hath come down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swear to him by Jehovah, saying, I do not put thee to death by the sword; 9 and now, acquit him not, for a wise man thou 'art', and thou hast known that which thou dost to him, and hast brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.'
10 And David lieth down with his fathers, and is buried in the city of David, 11 and the days that David hath reigned over Israel 'are' forty years, in Hebron he hath reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem he hath reigned thirty and three years.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 2:5-11
Commentary on 1 Kings 2:5-11
(Read 1 Kings 2:5-11)
These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne, which was the murders he had committed, but would readily repeat them to carry any purpose; though long reprieved, he shall be reckoned with at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of any sin, particularly of murder. Concerning Shimei, Hold him not guiltless; do not think him any true friend to thee, or thy government, or fit to be trusted; he has no less malice now than he had then. David's dying sentiments are recorded, as delivered under the influence of the Holy Ghost, 2 Samuel 23:1-7. The Lord discovered to him the offices and the salvation of that glorious personage, the Messiah, whose coming he then foretold, and from whom he derived all his comforts and expectations. That passage gives a decided proof that David died under the influence of the Holy Ghost, in the exercise of faith and hope.