1 Kings 2:39-46

39 It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shim`i ran away to Akhish, son of Ma`akhah, king of Gat. They told Shim`i, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gat.

40 Shim`i arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gat to Akhish, to seek his servants; and Shim`i went, and brought his servants from Gat.

41 It was told Shlomo that Shim`i had gone from Yerushalayim to Gat, and was come again.

42 The king sent and called for Shim`i, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by the LORD, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good.

43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD, and the mitzvah that I have charged you with?

44 The king said moreover to Shim`i, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return your wickedness on your own head.

45 But king Shlomo shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.

46 So the king commanded Benayah the son of Yehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Shlomo.

1 Kings 2:39-46 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.