The narrative gives no hint that Shimei’s journey to Gath for the sake of bringing back his servants was not made in good faith. But the fact remains that he had been disobedient to the king’s command and had broken his own solemn vow. It is upon this that stress is laid. If Shimei had wished to remain true to his oath, he should have informed the king of the circumstances, made request for permission to go and bring his servants back, and awaited the king’s command. But by taking matters into his own hands, and by venturing into a foreign land that had often been at war with Solomon’s father, Shimei was certainly laying himself open to suspicion.