1 Kings 2:7-17

7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gil`adite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Avshalom your brother.

8 Behold, there is with you Shim`i the son of Gera, the Binyamini, of Bachurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Machanayim; but he came down to meet me at the Yarden, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to She'ol with blood.

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

11 The days that David reigned over Yisra'el were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hevron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Yerushalayim.

12 Shlomo sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

13 Then Adoniyahu the son of Haggit came to Bat-Sheva the mother of Shlomo. She said, Come you peaceably? He said, Peaceably.

14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to tell you. She said, Say on.

15 He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Yisra'el set their faces on me, that I should reign: however the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD.

16 Now I ask one petition of you; don't deny me. She said to him, Say on.

17 He said, Please speak to Shlomo the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Avishag the Shunammite as 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.