1 Kings 2:7-17

7 But deal loyally with the sons of ¹Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be ²among those who eat at your table, ³for with such loyalty^[a] they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

8 And there is also with you ⁴Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day ⁵when I went to Mahanaim. ⁶But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'

9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, ⁷for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall ⁸bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."

The Death of David

10 ⁹Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in ¹⁰the city of David.

11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was ¹¹forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

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

Solomon's Reign Established

13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, ¹³"Do you come peacefully?" He said, "Peacefully."

14 Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Speak."

15 He said, "You know that ¹⁴the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, ¹⁵for it was his from the LORD.

16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Speak."

17 And he said, "Please ask King Solomon--he will not refuse you--to give me ¹⁶Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."

1 Kings 2:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KING 2

This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1Ki 2:1-4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1Ki 2:5-9; and the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his reign, 1Ki 2:10,11; after which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah, which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1Ki 2:12-25; and the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1Ki 2:26,27; and the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1Ki 2:28-34; in whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1Ki 2:35; and lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1Ki 2:36-38; who upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1Ki 2:39-46.

Cross References

• 1. See 2 Samuel 19:31-38
• 2. 2 Samuel 9:7, 10
• 3. 2 Samuel 17:27-29
• 4. 2 Samuel 16:5
• 5. 2 Samuel 17:24
• 6. 2 Samuel 19:18
• 7. [ver. 6]
• 8. [Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:31]
• 9. 1 Kings 1:21; Acts 2:29; Acts 13:36
• 10. 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 9:24
• 11. 2 Samuel 5:4, 5; 1 Chronicles 29:26, 27
• 12. 1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Chronicles 1:1
• 13. 1 Samuel 16:4
• 14. [1 Kings 1:5, 25]
• 15. 1 Chronicles 22:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 28:5-7
• 16. 1 Kings 1:3, 4

Footnotes

• [a]. Or steadfast love