David's Instructions to Solomon
1 1When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
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2"I am about to go the way of all the earth.
3Be strong, and show yourself a man,
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and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses,
4that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
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that the LORD may
5establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying,
6'If your sons pay close attention to their way,
7to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul,
8you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
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"Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah
9did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel,
10Abner the son of Ner,
11and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.
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Act therefore
12according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
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But deal loyally with the sons of
13Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be
14among those who eat at your table,
15for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
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And there is also with you
16Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day
17when I went to Mahanaim.
18But 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.'
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Now therefore do not hold him guiltless,
19for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall
20bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."
The Death of David
10 21Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in
22the city of David.
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And the time that David reigned over Israel was
23forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
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24So 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,
25"Do you come peacefully?" He said, "Peacefully."
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Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Speak."
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He said, "You know that
26the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's,
27for it was his from the LORD.
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And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Speak."
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And he said, "Please ask King Solomon--he will not refuse you--to give me
28Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
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Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king."