1 Kings 2

1 As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon,

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man.

3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,

4 and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.

6 So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

7 But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

8 Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’

9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

11 The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

13 Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.

14 Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.

15 “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

16 So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.

17 Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

20 “I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

21 So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.

24 And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

26 Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”

27 So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

29 It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”

30 And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”

31 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.

32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.

33 Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

35 And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

36 Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.

37 On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

38 “The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

40 So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,

42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’

43 So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

44 The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.

45 But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”

46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.

1 ¶ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, [and] what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that [was] about his loins, and in his shoes that [were] on his feet.

6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

8 And, behold, [thou hast] with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the days that David reigned over Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

12 ¶ Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and [that] all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

18 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; [I pray thee], say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

24 Now therefore, [as] the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

26 ¶ And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou [art] worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, [he is] by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing [thereof, to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.

34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

35 ¶ And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

37 For it shall be, [that] on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying [is] good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.

40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good.

43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

45 And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

1 And it came to pass, when the time was come that David should die, that he commanded Solomon his son, saying:

2 I go the way of all the earth: be of good cheer, and be a man.

3 And wait upon the guard of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses; that thou mayest be wise in all that thou doest, and in all that thou turnest,

4 That the LORD may perform his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children keep their ways, and walk before me faithfully with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall never fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

5 Also thou knowest well what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, what he did unto the two captains of the host of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his shoes that were upon his feet.

6 Do according to thy wisdom, that thou bring not down his gray hairs with peace unto hell.

7 Thou shalt also shew mercy unto the children of Barzillai the Gileadite, that they may eat at thy table. For so they did unto me, when I fled from Absalom thy brother.

8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the son of Jemini of Bahurim, who cursed me shamefully at the time that I went to Mahanaim. And he came down to meet me by Jordan. And I sware unto him by the LORD, saying: I will not kill thee with the sword.

9 But let him not be innocent: for thou art a wise man, and knowest well what thou oughtest to do unto him, that thou mayest bring down his gray hairs with blood into hell.

10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. Seven years was he king in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem.

12 And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was very established.

13 And Adonijah the son of Hagith came in unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou also with peace? And he said, Yea.

14 And said: I have come to speak with thee. And she said, Tell me.

15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel was set upon me to be king: but now the kingdom is turned, and is become my brother's; from the LORD it is become his.

16 Now I make a request of thee, that thou put not my face to shame. And she said unto him, Tell me.

17 And he said, Speak unto king Solomon, (for he will not put thy face to shame,) that he give me Abi sag of Sunem to wife.

18 And Bathsheba said, Well, I will speak unto the king for thy sake.

19 And Bathsheba came in unto king Solomon, to speak with him concerning Adonijah. And the king arose, and went to meet her, and worshipped her, and sat upon his throne. And a seat was set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right hand.

20 And she said: I make a small request of thee, that thou shalt not shame my face. And the king said unto her, Please, my mother, I will not shame thy face.

21 And she said, Let Abishag of Sunem give Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, Why askest thou Abishag of Sunem the Adonite? Ask him the kingdom also; for he is my greatest brother, and hath Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Zeruiah.

23 And king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do this unto me, and this unto me: Adonijah hath spoken this against his life.

24 And now, as the LORD liveth, which hath confirmed me, and made me to sit upon the throne of David my father, and hath made me an house, as he spake, this day shall Adonijah die.

25 And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, which smote him, and he died.

26 And the king said unto Abiathar the priest, Go to Anathoth unto thy field: for thou art dead. But I will not kill thee this day: for thou hast borne the ark of the LORD before David my father, and hast suffered where my father suffered.

27 So Solomon put away Abiathar, that he should not be the priest of the LORD, that the word of the LORD might be fulfilled, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 And the rumour came before Joab: for Joab was attached to Adonijah, though not to Absalom. And Joab fled into the tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold on the horns of the altar.

29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled to the tabernacle of the LORD: and, behold, he stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, smite him.

30 And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD, he said unto him, Thus saith the king, Go forth. And he said, Nay, I will die here. And Benaiah told the king these things again, saying, Thus spake Joab, and thus answered he me.

31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath spoken, and smite him, and bury him, that thou mayest put away from me the blood which Joab hath shed for nought, and from my father's house,

32 And let the LORD pay him for his blood upon his head, because he smote two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword: and David my father knew not any thing of it, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host over Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host over Judah;

33 And their blood shall be paid upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: and David, and his seed, and his house, and his throne, shall have peace in the sight of the LORD for ever.

34 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and smote him, and slew him. And he was buried in his house in the wilderness.

35 And the king set Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host: and the king set Zadok the priest in the stead of Abiathar.

36 And the king sent and called Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house at Jerusalem, and dwell there; and go not out thence, either hither or thither.

37 When thou goest forth, and passest over the brook Kidron, know that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thy head.

38 And Shimei said unto the king: This is a good opinion; as my lord the king hath spoken, so shall thy servant do. So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem a long time.

39 And it came to pass about three years, that two servants ran away from Shimei to Achish the son of Maechah king of Gath. And it was told Shimei, Behold, thy servants are at Gath.

40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants. And when he was come, he brought his servants from Gath.

41 And it was told Solomon, saying, Shimei is departed from Jerusalem unto Gath, and is come again.

42 And the king sent and called Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not swear unto thee by the LORD, and testify unto thee, saying, What day thou shalt go forth, and go hither or thither, and know that thou must surely die? And thou saidst unto me, I have heard a good report.

43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment which I commanded thee?

44 And the king said unto Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness that thine heart is conscious of, which thou hast done unto David my father: the LORD hath paid thy wickedness upon thy head.

45 And king Solomon is blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

46 And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and smote him, and he died. And the kingdom was established by the hand of Solomon.