שמואל ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ו׳

Hostility often simmers in thought and speech before boiling over into physical action. As Shimei's anger toward David reaches a breaking point, his aggression shifts from verbal insults to a tangible, physical attack. After approaching the king's entourage [מלבי״ם], he begins hurling stones at them. The primary approach among commentators is that this action was a deliberate, targeted assault [רד״ק]. However, the goal was not necessarily to inflict severe physical injury. Instead, the flying stones served as a powerful, violent display of deep hatred and disgust toward the king [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This physical assault marks the completion of a threefold sin against David, an act that is ultimately viewed as a rebellion against God. The offense began in thought, escalated to speech through harsh curses, and finally culminated in the physical act of throwing stones. The curses themselves called for David to be driven away, rooted in two heavy accusations: that he was a man of bloodshed, and that he was a wicked man due to his past actions involving Bathsheba [אלשיך].

The stones were aimed not only at David but at all the servants accompanying him. Yet, the aggression directed at the servants was not born of any personal grudge. They were targeted simply because of their loyalty and connection to David. In Shimei's mind, every stone that struck a servant was essentially a direct strike against the king himself [אלשיך].

What makes this attack particularly striking is the immediate setting. The stones were thrown while the people and David's mighty warriors closely surrounded him on both his right and his left [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This detail highlights the sheer magnitude of Shimei's fury. Consumed by rage, he completely lost his sense of reason, ignoring the heavily armed fighters flanking the king who could have easily and instantly ended his life [אלשיך].