1 Kings 2:1-18

David's Dying Instructions to Solomon

1 As the time approached for David to die, he instructed his son Solomon,^[a]

2 "As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and brave,

3 and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do^[b] and wherever you turn,

4 and so that the Lord will carry out His promise that He made to me: 'If your sons are careful to walk faithfully before Me with their whole mind and heart,^[c] you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'^[d]

5 "You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me and what he did to the two commanders of Israel's army, Abner son of Ner^[e] and Amasa son of Jether.^[f] He murdered them [in a time] of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.^[g]

6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.

7 "Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.^[h]

8 "Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord: 'I will never kill you with the sword.'^[i]

9 So don't let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."

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

11 The [length of] time David reigned over Israel was 40 years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem.

12 Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.^[j]

Adonijah's Foolish Request

13 Now Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come peacefully?" "Peacefully," he replied,

14 and then asked, "May I talk with you?"^[k] "Go ahead," she answered.

15 "You know the kingship was mine," he said. "All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother, for the Lord gave it to him.

16 So now I have just one request of you; don't turn me down."^[l] She said to him, "Go on."

17 He replied, "Please speak to King Solomon since he won't turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite^[m] as a wife."

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

1 Kings 2:1-18 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 47:29; Dt 31:14
• [b]. Dt 29:9; Jos 1:7-8; Ps 1:2-3
• [c]. Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37
• [d]. 1 Kg 8:25; 9:5; 2 Sm 7:12-16; Ps 132:12
• [e]. 2 Sm 3:27
• [f]. 2 Sm 20:10
• [g]. LXX, Lat read on my waistband and . . . my feet; v. 31
• [h]. 2 Sm 15:19-22
• [i]. 2 Sm 16:5-13; 19:16-24
• [j]. 1 Ch 29:23-25
• [k]. Lit then said, "I have a word for you."
• [l]. Lit don't make me turn my face
• [m]. 1 Kg 1:3-4,15