CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Kings 2
Chapter 2 of 22
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Kings 2
David gives Solomon his final instructions before dying. Solomon then secures his kingdom by dealing with those who threaten his reign, including Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei.
Scripture
1 Kings 2
David's Final Words to Solomon
Study note
As David neared death, he charged Solomon to be strong and faithful to God's commands. He reminded Solomon of God's promise that David's descendants would always rule if they obeyed. David gave specific instructions about Joab, who had murdered two innocent army commanders, about Barzillai's sons who deserved kindness, and about Shimei, who had cursed David.
1 As David's death drew near, he gave his son Solomon these final instructions. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2 "I am about to go the way of all living things. So be strong and prove yourself a man." I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
3 "Obey what the Lord your God requires: follow his ways, keep his rules, his commands, his laws, and his instructions as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you will succeed in everything you do and everywhere you go." And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4 "Then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He said, 'If your descendants live carefully before me and walk faithfully with complete devotion, you will always have a man on the throne of Israel.'" That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5 "You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me -- how he murdered two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them in peacetime as if it were war, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood." Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6 "Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let him die a peaceful death of old age." Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
7 "Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. Give them a permanent place at your table, because they stood by me when I was running from your brother Absalom." But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
8 "And there is Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me viciously on the day I fled to Mahanaim. He came to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord that I would not kill him." And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
9 "But you should not let him go unpunished. You are wise enough to know what to do with him. Make sure his gray head goes down to the grave in blood." Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
David Dies and Solomon's Throne Is Established
Study note
David died after ruling Israel for forty years: seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. He was buried in the City of David. Solomon took his place on the throne, and his rule was firmly established.
10 David died and was buried in the City of David. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11 David had been king over Israel for forty years total. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
12 Solomon sat on his father David's throne, and his grip on the kingdom became very secure. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
Adonijah's Fatal Request
Study note
Adonijah asked Bathsheba to request that Solomon give him Abishag as his wife. In the ancient world, taking a former king's companion was the same as claiming the throne. Solomon saw through this immediately and ordered Benaiah to execute Adonijah.
13 Adonijah, Haggith's son, went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come in peace?" He answered, "Yes, peacefully." And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
14 Then he said, "I need to discuss something with you." She replied, "Go ahead." He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
15 He said, "You know the kingdom was supposed to be mine. All Israel expected me to be king. But things turned out differently -- the kingdom went to my brother instead, because the Lord wanted it that way." And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
16 "Now I have just one request. Please do not turn me down." She said, "What is it?" And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
17 He answered, "Please ask King Solomon -- he will not refuse you -- to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife." And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
18 "Very well," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you." And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
19 Bathsheba went to King Solomon to present Adonijah's request. The king rose to greet her and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a throne placed for his mother at his right hand. Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20 She began, "I have just one small favor to ask. Please do not turn me down." The king replied, "Go ahead and ask, Mother. I would not refuse you." Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
21 She said, "Give Abishag the Shunammite to your brother Adonijah as his wife." And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
22 King Solomon responded, "Why ask for Abishag? You might as well ask me to hand over the entire kingdom to Adonijah! After all, he is my older brother, and he has Abiathar the priest and Joab on his side!" And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
23 King Solomon swore by the Lord: "May God punish me severely if this request does not cost Adonijah his life!" Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
24 "I swear by the living Lord. He placed me on my father David's throne. He set up a dynasty for me, as he vowed. Today Adonijah will be put to death." Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
25 King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck Adonijah down and killed him. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
Solomon Removes Abiathar and Joab
Study note
Solomon banished Abiathar the priest for supporting Adonijah. When Joab heard the news, he fled to the tabernacle altar for sanctuary. Solomon remembered David's instructions about Joab's guilt for murdering Abner and Amasa. Benaiah executed Joab. Solomon then appointed Benaiah as army commander and Zadok as sole high priest.
26 To the priest Abiathar, the king said, "Go back to your estate in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not execute you today because you carried the Ark of the Lord God before my father David and shared in all of David's hardships." And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
27 Solomon removed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the family of Eli. So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 News of all this reached Joab. Since Joab had supported Adonijah (though he had not supported Absalom), he fled to the Lord's tent and grabbed the altar's corners for protection. Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
29 When Solomon heard that Joab had fled to the altar, he sent Benaiah with orders: "Go and strike him down." And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
30 Benaiah went to the Lord's tent and told Joab, "The king orders you to come out." Joab replied, "No! I will die right here." Benaiah reported back to the king. And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
31 The king commanded, "Do what he says -- strike him down and bury him. This will remove from me and my family the guilt of the innocent blood Joab shed." And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
32 "The Lord will hold Joab responsible for the blood he spilled. Without my father David knowing or saying yes, Joab attacked and killed two men who were better than him. They were Abner son of Ner, Israel's army commander, and Amasa son of Jether, Judah's army commander." And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
33 "Their blood will be on Joab's head and on his descendants forever. But the Lord will grant peace to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne for all time." Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.
34 Benaiah went and executed Joab. Joab was buried at his own property out in the countryside. So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
35 The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to replace Joab as army commander. He also appointed Zadok as priest in place of Abiathar. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
The End of Shimei
Study note
Solomon ordered Shimei to live in Jerusalem and never leave, warning that he would die if he crossed the Kidron Valley. Shimei agreed but broke his promise three years later when he chased runaway servants to Gath. Solomon confronted him, and Benaiah executed him. With this, Solomon's kingdom was fully secured.
36 Then the king summoned Shimei and told him, "Build a house here in Jerusalem and live in it. Do not leave the city for any reason." And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
37 "The day you step outside and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be certain you will die. Your death will be your own fault." For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
38 Shimei answered, "That is a fair arrangement. I will do as my lord the king says." Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
39 But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah in Gath. When Shimei found out where they were, And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
40 he saddled his donkey and traveled to Gath to retrieve his slaves. He brought them back home. And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
41 Solomon was told that Shimei had left Jerusalem, gone to Gath, and returned. And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
42 The king summoned Shimei and said, "Did I not make you swear by the Lord and clearly warn you, 'The day you leave this city, know for sure that you will die'? And you agreed, saying, 'That is fair. I accept.'" And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
43 "Then why did you break your promise to the Lord and disobey my direct order?" Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
44 The king continued, "You know in your heart all the terrible things you did to my father David. Now the Lord is bringing those consequences back on you." The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
45 "But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will stand secure before the Lord forever." And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
46 The king gave the order to Benaiah, who went out and executed Shimei. Solomon's hold on the kingdom was now fully established. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Kings 2
The importance of a spiritual legacy and final instructionsJustice that addresses long-standing wrongsThe cost of breaking promises and covenantsEstablishing a kingdom on righteousness
Apply This Today
Living 1 Kings 2
David's final charge to Solomon was to be strong and walk in God's ways. The most important thing any parent or mentor can leave behind is not wealth or power, but a clear charge to follow God faithfully. What we say in our final moments reveals what matters most.
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