UST 1KI Chapter 2

◄ 1KI 2 ► ║ ═ ©

2 When David realized that he would soon die, he instructed his son Solomon in what he should do. Here is what he told him:

2 “I will soon die. You must be bold and courageous. 3 You must do what Yahweh our God has required. You must behave as he wants you to behave. You must obey everything that he has directed and instructed us to do, which Moses wrote in the Instruction. That way, wherever you go and whatever you do, you will do well. 4 Also, you must obey Yahweh so that he will do what he promised to do. He declared that one of my relatives would always be ruling over the Israelite people as long as my descendants behave properly by being completely faithful to him.

5 Further, you remember how Joab, Zeruiah’s son, acted against me by murdering two of the leaders over the Israelite army. I mean Abner, Ner’s son, and Amasa, Jether’s son. Further, when there was no battle, he killed people as if there was a battle. He is responsible for killing those people. 6 You must make sure that he does not become old and die peacefully. Do that in whatever way you think is best.

7 In contrast, you must be kind to the children of Barzillai, who was from the region of Gilead. Provide them with food and drink. You should do that because, along with Barzillai, they helped me by giving me food and drink when I was running away from your older brother Absalom.

8 Next, Gera’s son Shimei, who is from the tribe of Benjamin and who used to live in the town of Bahurim, is staying here. When I was traveling to the town of Mahanaim, he asked God to harm me very much. Later, when he visited me near the Jordan River, I had Yahweh guarantee it when I solemnly promised that I would not have someone execute him. 9 But now, be sure that you punish him. You must make sure that he dies violently, even though he is old. You are a wise person, so you can decide how to do that.”

10 Sometime later, David died. People buried him in David’s city, which is part of the city of Jerusalem. 11 In all, David had been king of the Israelite people for 40 years. He ruled for seven years from the city of Hebron, and he ruled for 33 years from the city of Jerusalem. 12 Solomon ruled as the next king after King David, his father. Everyone acknowledged and obeyed him.

13 One day, Adonijah, Haggith’s son, visited Solomon’s mother Bathsheba. She asked him, “Are you acting peacefully as you visit me?” He replied, “Yes, I am.”

14 Then Adonijah said, “I want to discuss something with you.” Bathsheba replied, “Tell me about it.”

15 So Adonijah said, “You remember that I almost became the next king. In fact, most of the Israelite people wanted me to be the next king. However, Yahweh decided that my younger brother Solomon would be the next king instead of me, and that is what happened. 16 At this time, I am asking you to do one thing for me. Please do not refuse to do it.” She replied, “Ask me.”

17 He said, “I ask you to do this because King Solomon will not refuse to do what you ask. So, please ask King Solomon to allow me to marry Abishag, who is from the town of Shunem.”

18 Bathsheba replied, “Very well, I will talk with King Solomon about what you have asked for.”

19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to talk with him about what Adonijah asked for. When she arrived, King Solomon got up from his throne to welcome her and knelt before her to honor her. Then he sat back down on his throne. He had his attendants bring in a second throne for his mother, Bathsheba, and she sat down on it at his right side.

20 Then Bathsheba said, “I am asking you to do one unimportant thing. Please do not refuse to do it.” King Solomon replied, “Mother, I will not refuse to do it. Please ask me.”

21 So Bathsheba said, “Please allow your older brother Adonijah to marry Abishag, who is from the town of Shunem.”

22 King Solomon replied, “You should not ask me to allow Adonijah to marry Abishag, who is from the town of Shunem. Because he is my older brother, that is like asking me to make him king. He, Abiathar the priest, and Joab who is Zeruiah’s son would rule instead of me.”

23 Then King Solomon had Yahweh authorize it when he solemnly promised, “Adonijah risked dying when he asked to marry Abishag. May God punish me very severely if that is not true. 24 Yahweh has made me the next king after David, my father. Further, he has caused everyone to acknowledge and obey me. As he promised David, he has made sure that my descendants will be the kings over the Israelite people. As surely as he lives, I promise solemnly that I will have someone execute Adonijah this very day!” 25 Then King Solomon told Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, to kill Adonijah. So, Benaiah killed Adonijah.

26 Then Solomon told Abiathar the priest, “You deserve to die. However, you were in charge of our Lord Yahweh’s sacred chest when my father David was king. Further, you suffered with him all the things that he suffered. So, I will not have someone execute you right now. Instead, I command you to return to your land by the town of Anathoth and stay there.” 27 So Solomon forced Abiathar to stop serving Yahweh as a priest. Because of that, what Yahweh had said at the town of Shiloh about the descendants of Eli, Abiathar’s ancestor, came true.

28 Now Joab had not supported Absalom as king, but he had supported Adonijah as king. So, when he heard what Solomon had done to Adonijah and Abiathar, he ran to Yahweh’s sacred tent. He held onto the projections of the altar because he thought that no one would kill him there. 29 Someone informed King Solomon, “Joab has run to Yahweh’s sacred tent. He is standing near the altar.” So, Solomon told Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, “Go to where Joab is and kill him.”

30 So Benaiah walked to Yahweh’s sacred tent. He told Joab, “The king commands you to come out.” Joab replied, “I prefer to die here. I will not come out.” After that, Benaiah returned to King Solomon and told him what Joab had said to him.

31 King Solomon replied, “Do what he has requested. Kill him and bury his body. That way, I and the rest of my father’s family will no longer be guilty for what Joab did when he killed people who did not deserve to die. 32 Also, that way Yahweh will punish Joab for murdering people. King David, my father, did not approve of this, but Joab murdered two men who did what was right more than he did. I mean Abner, Ner’s son, who was the leader of the Israelite soldiers, and Amasa, Jether’s son, who was the leader of the Judean soldiers. 33 So, because Joab murdered those two men, God will punish him and his descendants forever. In contrast, Yahweh will forever act peacefully with David, his family, his descendants, and the kings who will rule after him.”

34 So Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, walked to where Joab was and killed him. Then people buried Joab near his home in the desolate area of Judah. 35 Then King Solomon appointed Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, to be the leader of the soldiers instead of Joab. King Solomon also appointed Zadok to be the priest instead of Abiathar.

36 After that, King Solomon had a messenger summon Shimei. When Shimei arrived, King Solomon told him, “You must live in the city of Jerusalem. You must not leave the city to go anywhere else. 37 Here is what I want you to understand: Suppose that one day you cross the Kidron Valley to leave the city of Jerusalem. Then, I will have someone execute you. You will be responsible for it when you die.”

38 Shimei replied, “Your Majesty, I agree to that. I will do what you have said.” So, Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time and did not leave.

39 Then, three years later, two of Shimei’s servants ran away. They went to the king of the city of Gath, Achish, who was Maacah’s son. Some people informed Shimei that his servants were in the city of Gath. 40 he put a saddle on his donkey and got on the donkey and went to Gath. He found his slaves staying with King Achish and brought them back home.

41 But someone told King Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned. 42 So the king sent a soldier to summon Shimei and said to him, “I told you to solemnly promise, knowing that Yahweh was listening, that you must not leave Jerusalem. I told you, ‘Be sure that if you ever leave Jerusalem, you will be executed.’ And you replied to me, ‘What you have said is good; I will do what you have said.’ 43 So why did you not do what you solemnly promised to Yahweh? Why did you disobey what I commanded you?”

44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your inner being all the evil things that you did to my father David. So Yahweh will now punish you for the evil things that you did. 45 But Yahweh will bless me, and he will enable David’s descendants to rule forever.”

46 Then the king gave a command to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He went out and put Shimei to death.

So Solomon obtained complete control of the kingdom.

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