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OEB 1KI Chapter 2

2 Now when the time drew near that David must die, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 ‘I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 3 and faithfully discharge your duty to Jehovah your God, by walking in his ways, by keeping his statutes, his commands, his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may act wisely and prosper in all that you do and in all that you undertake; 4 that Jehovah may redeem his promise which he made to me, saying, “If your sons take heed to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you” (said he) “a man on the throne of Israel.”

Where Kent reads, "and thus in time of peace avenged blood shed in war", the Masoretic Text reads "and put the blood of war in peace". And where Kent reads "innocent blood", the Masoretic Text reads "the blood of war". 5 ‘And you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, how that he slew them and thus in time of peace avenged blood shed in war, and put innocent blood upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, so that you will not let his hoary head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite that they may be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 Furthermore you have with you the Benjamite, Shimei the son of Gera of Bahurim, who uttered a grievous curse against me on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by Jehovah, saying, “I will not put you to death with the sword.” 9 But now do not let him go unpunished; you are a wise man and know what to do in order to bring his hoary head down with blood to Sheol.’

10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the period that David reigned over Israel was forty years: seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.

12 Now Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father and his kingdom was firmly established.The Masoretic Text omits "and bowed before her". 13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon and bowed before her. And she said, ‘Do you come in a friendly manner?’ And he replied, ‘Yes’, 14 and added, ‘I have something to say to you.’ And she said, ‘Speak.’ 15 And he said, ‘You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel regarded me as the coming king, but now the kingdom has been taken away from me and has become my brother’s, for it was his from Jehovah. 16 Now, however, I would ask one thing of you; do not refuse me.’ And she said to him, ‘Speak.’ 17 And he said, ‘Then request Solomon the king--he will not refuse you--to give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.’ 18 And Bathsheba said, ‘Good, I will speak for you to the king.’

Where Kent reads, "a seat was placed", the Masoretic Text reads "caused a seat to be placed". 19 Bathsheba went therefore to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed before her, and sat down on his throne, and a seat was placed for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, ‘I would make a small request of you; do not refuse me.’ And the king said to her, ‘Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’ 21 And she said, ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.’Where Kent reads, "and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah", the Masoretic Text reads, "and for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah". 22 Then King Solomon answered and said to his mother, ‘Why then do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also! for he is my elder brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.’ 23 Thereupon King Solomon swore by Jehovah, saying, ‘God do to me whatever he pleaseth if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore as Jehovah liveth, who hath established me and caused me to mount the throne of David my father, and who hath, as he promised, given me posterity, Adonijah shall surely be put to death this day.’ 25 Then King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoida; and he struck him down, so that he died.

Where Kent reads "Jehovah", the Masoretic Text reads "the Lord Yhwh". 26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, ‘Go to Anathoth to your estate; for you are to-day condemned to die, but I will not put you to death, because you bore the ark of Jehovah before David my father and because you shared all the afflictions which my father experienced.’ 27 Thus Solomon ejected Abiathar, so that he was no longer Jehovah’s priest, that he might fulfil the word of Jehovah which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 But when the report came to Joab--for Joab had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom--Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.The Masoretic Text omits, "Thereupon Solomon sent to Joab, saying, ’How comes it that you have fled to the altar?’ Joab replied, ’Because I was afraid of you and so I fled to Jehovah.’" 29 And it was told King Solomon, ‘Joab has fled to the tent of Jehovah and is there beside the altar.’ Thereupon Solomon sent to Joab, saying, ‘How comes it that you have fled to the altar?’ Joab replied, ‘Because I was afraid of you and so I fled to Jehovah.’ Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoida, saying, ‘Go, strike him down.’ 30 And Benaiah went to the tent of Jehovah and said to him, ‘The king commands, “Come forth.” ’ But he said, ‘No; I will rather die here.’ And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, ‘Thus said Joab and thus he answered me.’ 31 And the king said to him, ‘Do as he has said: strike him down and bury him, that you may take away the innocent blood which Joab shed from me and from my father’s clan. 32 And Jehovah will requite his bloody act upon his own head, because he struck down two men more honorable and better than he, and slew them with the sword without the knowledge of my father David: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 So shall their blood come back upon the head of Joab and the head of his descendants forever; but to David, and to his descendants, and to his house, and to his throne may there be peace forever from Jehovah.’ 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and slew him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

36 Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, ‘Build a house in Jerusalem, there you may live, but you shall not go forth from there to any place whatever. 37 For as soon as you go away and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be upon your own head.’ 38 And Shimei said to the king, ‘The statement is fair. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.’ And Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time.

39 But at the end if three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah king of Gath. And when it was reported to Shimei, ‘Your slaves are in Gath’, 40 Shimei rose and saddled his ass and went to Gath to Achish to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back again. 42 Then the king summoned Shimei, and said to him, ‘Did I not cause you to take an oath by Jehovah and solemnly admonish you, saying, “Know for certain that as soon as you go away to any place whatever, you shall surely die”? And you said to me, “The statement is fair.” 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of Jehovah and the command that I laid upon you?’ 44 The king also said to Shimei, ‘You are aware of all the wickedness which you yourself alone know, that you did to David my father; now Jehovah hath brought your wickedness upon your own head.’ 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed and the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah forever. 46 So the king gave command to Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and thus he died. So the kingdom was brought completely under the control of Solomon.

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