In the testament David HaMelech commands Shlomo, he makes another request – that Shimi ben Gera should die an unnatural death, and that he act with wisdom. Shlomo HaMelech, the wisest of all men, is commanded by his father to eliminate Shimi ben Gera: “I cannot do it because I swore not to kill him; he rebelled against the kingdom and therefore deserves death! But do it with wisdom!” What does Shlomo ultimately do? He forbids Shimi ben Gera from leaving Yerushalayim, telling him the moment he does, his blood is on his head!
What wisdom did Shlomo use here? How many people are there who, from the day they were born until the day they died, never left Yerushalayim? We’re talking about Yerushalayim when the Beit Hamikdash stood, the peak of beauty and holiness; who even wanted to leave Yerushalayim?!
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz comes and explains a wonderful yesod. How did Shlomo fulfill his father’s testament in this way – with wisdom? Could it have been understood beforehand that Shimi would eventually leave Yerushalayim and incur the death penalty? Even in our days, there are people who have never left Yerushalayim their entire lives! Is this really a stumbling block for Shimi, who was the head of the Sanhedrin? What trial is there in this?! Furthermore, why did Shlomo HaMelech need to add a warning that on the day he leaves, he is liable to death? Isn’t it obvious to all that transgressing the king’s command is rebellion against the kingdom? If he wanted to cause him to stumble, why explain to Shimi that he would die if he left?
Rather, we learn from this that Shlomo, in his wisdom, saw and understood that Shimi would surely transgress this royal decree, for it is a great difficulty for a person to be forced. Yerushalayim would become like a dungeon and prison for someone compelled to stay there against his will. There was great wisdom here. If you tell someone: “Choose for yourself the most beautiful hotel in the world – my treat!” He’ll wander around and eventually decide, “I’ve chosen the King David in Yerushalayim; you can even see the Kotel from there! It’s perfect for me!” Then you ask him: “Which room do you want, facing the Kotel or the road?” Surely, he answers: “Facing the Kotel!” Then, “With a balcony or without?” “Of course, with a balcony – a big one!” After he’s chosen the perfect room, you say to him: “You’ve chosen your room? Great. From this moment forward, you’re not leaving it until the day you die!” At that moment, says Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, the perfect and luxurious room becomes nothing but a prison cell!
Shlomo’s warning that he would be liable to death then came to heighten and reinforce the compulsion, and the heavier the chains on Shimi’s hands, the greater his desire to break them.
