1 Kings 2 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

David’s Command to Solomon

1 Then David’s ^H1732 [fn]time ^H3117 to die ^H4191 drew ^H7126 near ^H7126, so he commanded ^H6680 Solomon ^H8010 his son ^H1121, saying ^H559,

2 “I am going ^H1980 the way ^H1870 of all ^H3605 the earth ^H776. So you shall be strong ^H2388, and be ^H1961 a man ^H376. 3 And you shall keep ^H8104 the responsibility ^H4931 given by Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430, to walk ^H1980 in His ways ^H1870, to keep ^H8104 His statutes ^H2708, His commandments ^H4687, His judgments ^H4941, and His testimonies ^H5715, according to what is written ^H3789 in the Law ^H8451 of Moses ^H4872, that you may be prosperous ^H7919 in all ^H3605 that you do ^H6213 and wherever ^{H3605 H834 H8033} you turn ^H6437, 4 so ^H4616 that Yahweh ^H3068 may establish ^H6965 His promise ^H1697 which ^H834 He spoke ^H1696 concerning ^H5921 me, saying ^H559, ‘If ^H518 your sons ^H1121 keep ^H8104 their way ^H1870, to walk ^H1980 before ^H6440 Me in [fn]truth ^H571 with all ^H3605 their heart ^H3824 and with all ^H3605 their soul ^H5315, He said ^H559, [fn]you shall not have a man ^H376 cut ^H3772 off from the throne ^H3678 of Israel ^H3478.’

5 “Now you also ^H1571 know ^H3045 what ^H834 Joab ^H3097 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870 did ^H6213 to me, what ^H834 he did ^H6213 to the two ^H8147 commanders ^H8269 of the armies ^H6635 of Israel ^H3478, to Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner ^H5369, and to Amasa ^H6021 the son ^H1121 of Jether ^H3500, whom he killed ^H2026; he also [fn]shed ^H7760 the blood ^H1818 of war ^H4421 in peace ^H7965. And he put ^H5414 the blood ^H1818 of war ^H4421 on his belt ^H2290 [fn]about his [fn]waist ^H4975, and on his sandals ^H5275 [fn]on his feet ^H7272. 6 So act ^H6213 according to your wisdom ^H2451, and do not let his gray ^H7872 hair ^H7872 go ^H3381 down ^H3381 to Sheol ^H7585 in peace ^H7965. 7 But show ^H6213 lovingkindness ^H2617 to the sons ^H1121 of Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite ^H1569, and let them be among those who eat ^H398 at your table ^H7979; for they [fn]assisted ^H7126 me when I fled ^H1272 from Absalom ^H53 your brother ^H251. 8 Behold ^H2009, there is with you Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera ^H1617 the Benjamite ^H1145, of Bahurim ^H980; now it was he who cursed ^H7043 me with a [fn]violent ^H4834 curse ^H7045 on the day ^H3117 I went ^H1980 to Mahanaim ^H4266. But when he came ^H3381 down ^H3381 to me at the Jordan ^H3383, I swore ^H7650 to him by Yahweh ^H3068, saying ^H559, ‘I will not put ^H4191 you to ^H4191 death ^H4191 with the sword ^H2719.’ 9 So now ^H6258, do not let him go ^H5352 unpunished ^H5352, for you are a wise ^H2450 man ^H376; and you will know ^H3045 what ^H834 you ought to do ^H6213 to him, and you will bring ^H3381 his gray ^H7872 hair ^H7872 down ^H3381 to Sheol ^H7585 with blood ^H1818.”

The Death of David

10 Then David ^H1732 slept ^H7901 with his fathers ^H1 and was buried ^H6912 in the city ^H5892 of David ^H1732.

11 And the [fn]time ^H3117 which David ^H1732 reigned ^H4427 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478 was forty ^H705 years ^H8141; in Hebron ^H2275 he reigned ^H4427 seven ^H7651 years ^H8141 and in Jerusalem ^H3389 he reigned ^H4427 thirty-three ^H7970 H7969 years ^H8141. 12 And Solomon ^H8010 sat ^H3427 on the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 his father ^H1, and his kingdom ^H4438 was firmly ^H3966 established ^H3559.

Adonijah’s Request

13 Then Adonijah ^H138 the son ^H1121 of Haggith ^H2294 came ^H935 to Bathsheba ^H1339 the mother ^H517 of Solomon ^H8010. And she said ^H559, “Do you come ^H935 peacefully ^H7965?” And he said ^H559, “Peacefully ^H7965.”

14 Then he said ^H559, “I have something ^H1697 to say to you.” And she said ^H559, “Speak ^H1696.” 15 So he said ^H559, “You know ^H3045 that the kingdom ^H4410 was mine and that all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 [fn]expected ^H7760 H6440 me to be ^H4427 king ^H4427; however, the kingdom ^H4410 has turned ^H5437 about ^H5437 and become ^H1961 my brother’s ^H251, for it was his from Yahweh ^H3068. 16 So now ^H6258, I am making ^H7592 one ^H259 request ^H7596 of you; do not [fn]turn ^H7725 me away ^H7725.” And she said ^H559 to him, “Speak ^H1696.” 17 Then he said ^H559, “Please ^H4994 speak ^H559 to Solomon ^H8010 the king ^H4428, for he will not [fn]turn ^H7725 you away ^H7725, that he may give ^H5414 me Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 as a wife ^H802.” 18 And Bathsheba ^H1339 said ^H559, “Very ^H2896 well ^H2896; I will speak ^H1696 to the king ^H4428 for you.”

Adonijah Put to Death

19 So Bathsheba ^H1339 went ^H935 to King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 to speak ^H1696 to him for Adonijah ^H138. And the king ^H4428 arose ^H6965 to meet ^H7122 her, bowed ^H2331 before her, and sat ^H3427 on his throne ^H3678; then he had a throne ^H3678 set ^H7760 for the king’s ^H4428 mother ^H517, and she sat ^H3427 on his right ^H3225.

20 Then she said ^H559, “I am making ^H7592 one ^H259 small ^H6996 request ^H7596 of you; do not turn ^H7725 [fn]me away.” And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to her, “Ask ^H7592, my mother ^H517, for I will not turn ^H7725 [fn]you away ^H7725.” 21 So she said ^H559, “Let Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 be given ^H5414 to Adonijah ^H138 your brother ^H251 as a wife ^H802.” 22 Then King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559 to his mother ^H517, “And why ^H4100 are you asking ^H7592 Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 for Adonijah ^H138? Ask ^H7592 for him also the kingdom ^H4410—for he is my older ^H1419 brother ^H251—even for him, for Abiathar ^H54 the priest ^H3548, and for Joab ^H3097 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870!” 23 Then King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 swore ^H7650 by Yahweh ^H3068, saying ^H559, “May God ^H430 do ^H6213 so ^H3541 to me and more ^H3254 also ^H3541, if ^H3588 Adonijah ^H138 has not spoken ^H1696 this ^H2088 word ^H1697 against his own [fn]life ^H5315. 24 So now ^H6258, as Yahweh ^H3068 lives ^H2416, who ^H834 has established ^H3559 me and set ^H3427 me on the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 my father ^H1 and who ^H834 has made ^H6213 me a house ^H1004 as He promised ^H1696, surely ^H3588 Adonijah ^H138 shall be put ^H4191 to ^H4191 death ^H4191 today ^H3117.” 25 So King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 sent ^H7971 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077; and he fell ^H6293 upon him so that he died ^H4191.

26 Then to Abiathar ^H54 the priest ^H3548 the king ^H4428 said ^H559, “Go ^H1980 to Anathoth ^H6068 to your own field ^H7704, for you [fn]deserve ^H376 to die ^H4194; but I will not put ^H4191 you to ^H4191 death ^H4191 at this ^H2088 time ^H3117, because ^H3588 you carried ^H5375 the ark ^H727 of Lord ^H136 Yahweh ^H3068 before ^H6440 my father ^H1 David ^H1732, and because ^H3588 you were afflicted ^H6031 in everything ^H3605 with which ^H834 my father ^H1 was afflicted ^H6031.” 27 So Solomon ^H8010 drove ^H1644 Abiathar ^H54 away ^H1644 from being ^H1961 priest ^H3548 to Yahweh ^H3068, in order to fulfill ^H4390 the word ^H1697 of Yahweh ^H3068, which ^H834 He had spoken ^H1696 concerning ^H5921 the house ^H1004 of Eli ^H5941 in Shiloh ^H7887.

Joab Put to Death

28 Now the news ^H8052 came ^H935 to Joab ^H3097, for Joab ^H3097 had followed ^H5186 H310 Adonijah ^H138, although he had not followed ^H310 H5186 Absalom ^H53. And Joab ^H3097 fled ^H5127 to the tent ^H168 of Yahweh ^H3068 and took ^H2388 hold ^H2388 of the horns ^H7161 of the altar ^H4196.

29 And it was told ^H5046 to King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 that Joab ^H3097 had fled ^H5127 to the tent ^H168 of Yahweh ^H3068, and behold ^H2009, he is beside ^H681 the altar ^H4196. Then Solomon ^H8010 sent ^H7971 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077, saying ^H559, “Go ^H1980, fall ^H6293 upon him.” 30 So Benaiah ^H1141 came ^H935 to the tent ^H168 of Yahweh ^H3068 and said ^H559 to him, “Thus ^H3541 the king ^H4428 has said ^H559, ‘Come ^H3318 out ^H3318.’” But he said ^H559, “No ^H3808, for I will die ^H4191 here ^H6311.” And Benaiah ^H1141 brought ^H7725 the king ^H4428 word ^H1697 again ^H7725, saying ^H559, “Thus ^H3541 spoke ^H1696 Joab ^H3097, and thus ^H3541 he answered ^H6030 me.” 31 And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to him, “Do ^H6213 as he has spoken ^H1696 and fall ^H6293 upon him and bury ^H6912 him, that you may remove ^H5493 from me and from my father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 the blood ^H1818 which ^H834 Joab ^H3097 shed ^H8210 without ^H2600 cause ^H2600. 32 And Yahweh ^H3068 will return ^H7725 his blood ^H1818 on his own head ^H7218, because ^H834 he fell ^H6293 upon two ^H8147 men ^H376 more ^H4480 righteous ^H6662 and better ^H2896 than ^H4480 he and killed ^H2026 them with the sword ^H2719, but my father ^H1 David ^H1732 did not know ^H3045 it: Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner ^H5369, commander ^H8269 of the army ^H6635 of Israel ^H3478, and Amasa ^H6021 the son ^H1121 of Jether ^H3500, commander ^H8269 of the army ^H6635 of Judah ^H3063. 33 So shall their blood ^H1818 return ^H7725 on the head ^H7218 of Joab ^H3097 and on the head ^H7218 of his seed ^H2233 forever ^H5769; but to David ^H1732 and his seed ^H2233 and his house ^H1004 and his throne ^H3678, may there be peace ^H7965 from Yahweh ^H3068 forever ^H5704 H5769.” 34 Then Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 and fell ^H6293 upon him and put ^H4191 him to ^H4191 death ^H4191, and he was buried ^H6912 at his own house ^H1004 in the wilderness ^H4057. 35 And the king ^H4428 appointed ^H5414 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077 over ^H5921 the army ^H6635 in ^H8478 his place ^H8478, and the king ^H4428 appointed ^H5414 Zadok ^H6659 the priest ^H3548 in ^H8478 the ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 Abiathar ^H54.

Shimei Put to Death

36 Then the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 and called ^H7121 for Shimei ^H8096 and said ^H559 to him, “Build ^H1129 for yourself a house ^H1004 in Jerusalem ^H3389 and live ^H3427 there ^H8033, and do not go ^H3318 out ^H3318 from there ^H8033 to any ^H575 place ^H575.

37 Now it will be on the day ^H3117 you go ^H3318 out ^H3318 and cross ^H5674 over ^H5674 the [fn]brook ^H5158 Kidron ^H6939, that you will know ^H3045 for ^H3045 certain ^H3045 that you shall surely ^H4191 die ^H4191; your blood ^H1818 shall be on your own head ^H7218.” 38 Shimei ^H8096 then said ^H559 to the king ^H4428, “The word ^H1697 is good ^H2896. As my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 has said ^H1696, so ^H3651 your servant ^H5650 will do ^H6213.” So Shimei ^H8096 lived ^H3427 in Jerusalem ^H3389 many ^H7227 days ^H3117.

39 But it happened ^H1961 at the end ^H7093 of three ^H7969 years ^H8141, that two ^H8147 of the slaves ^H5650 of Shimei ^H8096 ran ^H1272 away ^H1272 to Achish ^H397 son ^H1121 of Maacah ^H4601, king ^H4428 of Gath ^H1661. And they told ^H5046 Shimei ^H8096, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, your slaves ^H5650 are in Gath ^H1661.” 40 Then Shimei ^H8096 arose ^H6965 and saddled ^H2280 his donkey ^H2543, and went ^H1980 to Gath ^H1661 to Achish ^H397 to search ^H1245 for his slaves ^H5650. And Shimei ^H8096 went ^H1980 and brought ^H935 his slaves ^H5650 from Gath ^H1661. 41 And it was told ^H5046 to Solomon ^H8010 that Shimei ^H8096 had gone ^H1980 from Jerusalem ^H3389 to Gath ^H1661, and had returned ^H7725. 42 So the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 and called ^H7121 for Shimei ^H8096 and said ^H559 to him, “Did I not make you swear ^H7650 by Yahweh ^H3068 and solemnly ^H5749 warn ^H5749 you, saying ^H559, ‘You will know ^H3045 for ^H3045 certain ^H3045 that on the day ^H3117 you go ^H3318 out ^H3318 and go ^H1980 anywhere ^H575, you shall surely ^H4191 die ^H4191’? And you said ^H559 to me, ‘The word ^H1697 which I have heard ^H8085 is good ^H2896.’ 43 Why ^H4069 then have you not kept ^H8104 the oath ^H7621 of Yahweh ^H3068, and the command ^H4687 which ^H834 I have commanded ^H6680 you?” 44 The king ^H4428 also said ^H559 to Shimei ^H8096, “You know ^H3045 all ^H3605 the evil ^H7451 which ^H834 [fn]you acknowledge ^H3045 in your heart ^H3824, which ^H834 you did ^H6213 to my father ^H1 David ^H1732; therefore Yahweh ^H3068 shall return ^H7725 your evil ^H7451 on your own head ^H7218. 45 But King ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 shall be blessed ^H1288, and the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 shall be established ^H3559 before ^H6440 Yahweh ^H3068 forever ^H5704 H5769.” 46 So the king ^H4428 commanded ^H6680 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077, and he went ^H3318 out ^H3318 and fell ^H6293 upon him so that he died ^H4191.

Thus the kingdom ^H4467 was established ^H3559 in the hands ^H3027 of Solomon ^H8010.