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Dawudi Abuulirira Sulemaani

(A)Dawudi bwe yali anaatera okufa, n’abuulirira mutabani we Sulemaani ng’amukuutira nti, (B)“Nze ŋŋenda bonna ab’omu nsi gye bagenda, kale beera n’amaanyi era n’obuvumu, (C)era tambuliranga mu makubo ga Mukama Katonda wo ng’okwatanga ebiragiro bye, era okwatenga amateeka ge, n’ebiragiro bye n’ebyo by’ayagala, nga bwe byawandiikibwa mu mateeka ga Musa, olyoke obeerenga n’omukisa mu byonna by’onookolanga na buli gy’onoogendanga yonna. (D)Mukama anyweze ekisuubizo kye gye ndi nti, ‘Abaana bo bwe baneegenderezanga mu kkubo lyabwe, era bwe banaatambuliranga mu maaso gange mu mazima n’omutima gwabwe gwonna n’emmeeme yaabwe yonna, tewalibaawo muntu ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka bwa Isirayiri atali wa mu zzadde lyo.’ 

(E)“Ate ojjukiranga Yowaabu mutabani wa Zeruyiya kye yankola, bwe yatta abakulu ababiri ab’eggye lya Isirayiri, Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri ne Amasa mutabani wa Yeseri n’ayiwa omusaayi gwabwe mu biseera eby’emirembe ng’eyali mu lutalo, era omusaayi gwabwe ne gumansukira olukoba lwe olwali mu kiwato n’engatto ze ezaali mu bigere bye. (F)Kale muyise ng’okutegeera kwo bwe kuli, so tomuganyanga kukka emagombe mirembe mu bukadde bwe.

(G)“Naye batabani ba Baluzirayi Omugireyaadi obakoleranga ebyekisa, era babenga ku abo abanaatuulanga ku mmeeza yo, kubanga baali wamu nange bwe nadduka Abusaalomu muganda wo.

(H)“Era jjukira Simeeyi mutabani wa Gera Omubenyamini ow’e Bakulimu ali naawe, kubanga yankolimira mu ngeri enzibu ennyo, ku lunaku lwe nagenderako e Makanayimu. Kyokka bwe yaserengeta okunsisinkana ku Yoludaani ne mulayirira Mukama nti, ‘Sijja kukutta na kitala.’ (I)Kaakano tomubala ng’ataliiko musango. Oli musajja w’amagezi, era olimanya ekirikugwanira okumukola; tomuganyanga okukka emagombe mu mirembe mu bukadde bwe.”

10 (J)Awo Dawudi ne yeebakira wamu ne bajjajjaabe, n’aziikibwa mu kibuga kya Dawudi. 11 (K)Yafugira Isirayiri yonna emyaka amakumi ana, ng’afugira emyaka musanvu e Kebbulooni, n’emyaka amakumi asatu mu esatu e Yerusaalemi. 12 (L)Awo Sulemaani n’atuula ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka bwa Dawudi kitaawe, obwakabaka bwe ne bunywezebwa nnyo.

Obwakabaka bwa Sulemaani Bunywezebwa

13 (M)Adoniya omwana wa Kaggisi, n’alaga eri Basuseba nnyina Sulemaani. Basuseba n’amubuuza nti, “Ojja mirembe?” N’addamu nti, “Weewaawo mirembe.” 14 N’ayogera nate nti, “Nnina kye njagala okukubuulira.” Basuseba n’amuddamu nti, “Kimbuulire.” 15 Adoniya n’amugamba nti, “Nga bw’omanyi, obwakabaka bwali bwange, era ne Isirayiri yenna baatunuulira nze nga kabaka waabwe. Naye ebintu byakyuka, era n’obwakabaka bugenze eri muganda wange, kubanga bumuweereddwa Mukama. 16 Kaakano nkusaba ekigambo kimu, era tokinnyima.” Basuseba n’amugamba nti, “Kyogere.”

17 (N)Adoniya n’ayogera nti, “Nkwegayiridde gamba Sulemaani kabaka ampe Abisaagi Omusunammu okuba mukyala wange, kubanga kabaka anaakuwuliriza.”

18 Basuseba n’addamu nti, “Kale, nnaakwogererayo eri Kabaka.”

19 (O)Awo Basuseba bwe yagenda eri Kabaka Sulemaani, okwogererayo Adoniya, Kabaka n’agolokoka okumusisinkana, n’akutama n’oluvannyuma n’atuula ku ntebe ye ey’obwakabaka. N’atumya entebe ey’obwakabaka endala nnyina atuuleko[a], n’atuula ku mukono gwa kabaka ogwa ddyo.

20 Basuseba n’amugamba nti, “Nkusaba ekigambo kimu ekitono, era tokinnyima.”

Kabaka n’amuddamu nti, “Kisabe, maama, nange siikikumme.” 21 (P)N’ayogera nti, “Kkiriza Abisaagi Omusunammu afumbirwe muganda wo Adoniya.”

22 (Q)Kabaka Sulemaani n’addamu nnyina nti, “Lwaki osabira Adoniya, Abisaagi Omusunammu? Musabire n’obwakabaka, ate obanga ye mukulu wange; ky’ekyo, sabira ye, ne Abiyasaali kabona ne Yowaabu mutabani wa Zeruyiya!”

23 (R)Awo Kabaka Sulemaani n’alayira ng’agamba nti, “Katonda ankole bw’atyo n’okusingawo, Adoniya bw’atasasule n’obulamu bwe olw’ekyo ky’asabye! 24 (S)Kale nga Mukama bw’ali omulamu, oyo annywezezza ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka eya kitange Dawudi, era ampadde olulyo nga bwe yasuubiza, Adoniya anattibwa leero!” 25 (T)Awo Kabaka Sulemaani n’alagira Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada okutta Adoniya, era Adoniya n’attibwa.

26 (U)Kabaka n’agamba Abiyasaali kabona nti, “Ggwe genda e Anasosi mu byalo byo. Osaanidde okufa, naye siikutte mu biro bino, kubanga wasitulanga essanduuko ya Mukama mu maaso ga kitange Dawudi, era n’obonyaabonyezebwa wamu naye mu bibonoobono bye.” 27 (V)Awo Sulemaani n’agoba Abiyasaali[b] ku bwakabona bwa Mukama, okutuukiriza ekigambo Mukama kye yayogerera e Siiro ku nnyumba ya Eri.

28 (W)Amawulire bwe gaatuuka eri Yowaabu, eyali akyuse okugoberera Adoniya, newaakubadde nga teyagoberera Abusaalomu, n’addukira mu weema ya Mukama, n’akwata ku mayembe g’ekyoto. 29 (X)Bwe baategeeza kabaka Sulemaani nti Yowaabu addukidde mu weema ya Mukama, era nti ali ku kyoto, n’alagira Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada nti, “Genda omutte.”

30 (Y)Benaya n’agenda mu weema ya Mukama, n’agamba Yowaabu nti, “Kabaka akulagidde okufuluma.” Naye ye n’addamu nti, “Nedda, nzija kufiira wano.” Benaya n’azzaayo obubaka eri kabaka, nga Yowaabu bwe yamuddamu. 31 (Z)Awo kabaka n’alagira Benaya nti, “Kola nga bw’ayogedde, omutte era omuziike oggyewo omusango ku nze ne ku nnyumba ya kitange olw’omusaayi Yowaabu gwe yayiwa awatali nsonga. 32 (AA)Era Mukama alimusasula olw’omusaayi gwe yayiwa, kubanga yagwa ku basajja babiri n’abatta n’ekitala, Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri, omukulu w’eggye lya Isirayiri, ne Amasa mutabani wa Yeseri, omukulu w’eggye lya Yuda, kitange Dawudi n’atakimanya, ate nga baali bamusinga obutuukirivu n’obulungi. 33 Bwe gutyo omusango gw’omusaayi gwabwe gubeere ku mutwe gwa Yowaabu ne ku zzadde lye emirembe gyonna. Naye ku Dawudi ne ku zzadde lye, era ne ku nnyumba ye ne ku ntebe ye ey’obwakabaka, wabeerewo emirembe gya Mukama emirembe gyonna.”

34 Awo Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada n’ayambuka n’atta Yowaabu, n’aziikibwa mu ttaka lye[c] mu ddungu. 35 (AB)Awo kabaka n’afuula Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada omukulu w’eggye mu kifo kya Yowaabu, n’afuula ne Zadooki kabona mu kifo kya Abiyasaali. 36 (AC)Kabaka n’atumya Simeeyi n’amugamba nti, “Weezimbire ennyumba mu Yerusaalemi obeere omwo, so tovangamu okugenda awantu wonna. 37 (AD)Olunaku lw’olivaayo n’osomoka ekiwonvu Kiduloni, tegeerera ddala nga tolirema kufa, era omusaayi gwo guliba ku mutwe gwo ggwe.”

38 Simeeyi n’addamu Kabaka nti, “Ky’oyogedde kirungi. Omuddu wo ajja kukola nga mukama wange kabaka bw’ayogedde.” Awo Simeeyi n’amala ekiseera kiwanvu mu Yerusaalemi.

39 (AE)Naye bwe waayitawo emyaka esatu, babiri ku baddu ba Simeeyi ne baddukira eri Akisi mutabani wa Maaka kabaka w’e Gaasi[d]. Simeeyi n’ategeezebwa nti, “Abaddu bo bali Gaasi.” 40 Simeeyi olwawulira ebyo, ne yeebagala endogoyi ye n’agenda e Gaasi eri Akisi okunoonya abaddu be. Simeeyi n’agenda okuleeta abaddu be okuva e Gaasi.

41 Bwe baabuulira Sulemaani nti Simeeyi yava e Yerusaalemi n’agenda e Gaasi era n’akomawo, 42 kabaka n’amutumya, n’amubuuza nti, “Saakulayiza Mukama ne nkulabula nti, ‘Tegeerera ddala nga olunaku lw’olivaawo okugenda awantu wonna, olifa?’ N’oŋŋamba nti, ‘Kye njogedde kirungi era nzija kukigondera.’ 43 Kale kiki ekyakulobera okwekuuma ekirayiro kya Mukama n’ekiragiro kye nakulagira?”

44 (AF)Awo kabaka n’agamba Simeeyi nti, “Omanyi mu mutima gwo obubi bwonna bwe wakola Dawudi kitange. Kaakano Mukama alikusasula olw’obubi bwo. 45 (AG)Naye kabaka Sulemaani aliweebwa omukisa, ne ntebe ya Dawudi ey’obwakabaka erinywezebwa mu maaso ga Mukama emirembe gyonna.”

46 (AH)Kabaka n’alagira Benaya mutabani wa Yekoyaada, okutta Simeeyi.

Obwakabaka ne bunywezebwa mu mukono gwa Sulemaani.

Footnotes

  1. 2:19 Mu nsi ezo ez’obuvanjuba Nnabagereka yalina emirimu egy’obwakabaka gye yakolanga, era yali wa kitiibwa nnyo mu mpya za kabaka.
  2. 2:27 Abiyasaali ye yekka eyawona okuttibwa, enju ya Eri bwe yazikirizibwa (1Sa 22:17-20).
  3. 2:34 Abantu baaziikibwanga mu ttaka lyabwe kubanga mu biro ebyo tewaaliwo kifo kya lukale eky’okuziikamu
  4. 2:39 Gaasi kiri mu Bufirisuuti

David’s Charge to Solomon(A)

When the time drew near for David to die,(B) he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

“I am about to go the way of all the earth,”(C) he said. “So be strong,(D) act like a man, and observe(E) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper(F) in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise(G) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully(H) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

“Now you yourself know what Joab(I) son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner(J) son of Ner and Amasa(K) son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom,(L) but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

“But show kindness(M) to the sons of Barzillai(N) of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.(O) They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

“And remember, you have with you Shimei(P) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.(Q) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore(R) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom;(S) you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried(T) in the City of David.(U) 11 He had reigned(V) forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne(W) of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.(X)

Solomon’s Throne Established

13 Now Adonijah,(Y) the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?”(Z)

He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.”

“You may say it,” she replied.

15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.”

“You may make it,” she said.

17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag(AA) the Shunammite as my wife.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”

19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother,(AB) and she sat down at his right hand.(AC)

20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”

The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”

21 So she said, “Let Abishag(AD) the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag(AE) the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother(AF)—yes, for him and for Abiathar(AG) the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(AH) if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised(AI)—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah(AJ) son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.(AK)

26 To Abiathar(AL) the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth.(AM) You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark(AN) of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.”(AO) 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling(AP) the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns(AQ) of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar.(AR) Then Solomon ordered Benaiah(AS) son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

30 So Benaiah entered the tent(AT) of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!(AU)’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood(AV) that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay(AW) him for the blood he shed,(AX) because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa(AY) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better(AZ) men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

34 So Benaiah(BA) son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab(BB) and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35 The king put Benaiah(BC) son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok(BD) the priest.

36 Then the king sent for Shimei(BE) and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley,(BF) you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”(BG)

38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish(BH) son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.

41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn(BI) you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”

44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong(BJ) you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure(BK) before the Lord forever.”

46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah(BL) son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei(BM) down and he died.

The kingdom was now established(BN) in Solomon’s hands.

David’s Charge to Solomon

The day of David’s death was approaching, so he gave the following commands to his son Solomon:

I am about to go the way of all the earth. Now, be strong and act like a man! Fulfill your duties to the Lord your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his statutes, his commands, his ordinances, and his decrees as they are written in the Law of Moses, so that you may have success in everything you do and everywhere you turn, in order that the Lord may keep this word that he spoke to me: “If your sons are careful to walk before me faithfully with their whole heart and soul, then you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.”

Furthermore, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to two commanders of the army of Israel, to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, spilling blood in peacetime as if it were happening in war. He spattered that blood on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet, as if it were war. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.

Keep faith with[a] the sons of Barzillai from Gilead, and let them eat at your table, because they did the same for me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

Watch out for Shimei son of Gera from Bahurim of the tribe of Benjamin, since he is still with you. He cursed me bitterly on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, “I will not kill you with the sword.” But now, do not leave him unpunished, for you are a wise man. You will know what you should do to him. Bring his gray hair down to the grave in blood.

David’s Death

10 David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11 David was king over Israel for forty years. He was king in Hebron for seven years, and he was king in Jerusalem for thirty-three years.

Adonijah Schemes Against Solomon

12 Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.

13 Adonijah son of Haggith came to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba. She said to him, “Do you come in peace?”

“Yes, in peace,” he answered. 14 Then he said, “May I have a word with you?”

She said, “Yes. Speak up.”

15 He said, “You know that the kingship was mine, and all Israel looked for me to be king. But things changed, and the kingship went to my brother instead, because the Lord gave it to him. 16 But now, I am asking you for one request. Do not turn me away.”

She said, “Tell me what it is.”

17 He said, “Ask King Solomon (for he will not turn you down) to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife.”

18 Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will speak to the king for you.”

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king met her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and also set up a throne for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand.

20 She said, “I am asking you for one small request. Do not turn me down.”

The king answered her, “Ask, mother, for I will not turn you down.”

21 She said, “Please give Abishag from Shunem to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask for Abishag from Shunem to be given to Adonijah? You might as well ask for the kingship for him. After all, he is my brother, my older brother! Yes, request it for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, “May God punish me severely and double it,[b] if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request that he has made! 24 Now, as surely as the Lord lives, who has appointed me and seated me on the throne of my father David and has established my house just as he said he would, Adonijah will die today!” 25 Then King Solomon gave an order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and killed him.

Solomon Makes His Kingship Secure

26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to your estate in Anathoth because you deserve to die. But I will not kill you today because you carried the Ark of the Lord God before my father David and because you shared in all my father’s sufferings.” 27 So Solomon drove Abiathar out from serving as priest for the Lord to fulfill the word of the Lord which had been spoken against the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 When the news reached Joab, he fled to the Tent of the Lord and held on to the horns of the altar, for he had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom. 29 When King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the Tent of the Lord and that he was there by the side of the altar, Solomon sent word to ⎣Joab, saying, “What happened to you that caused you to flee to the altar?” Joab said, “Because I was afraid of you, I fled to the Lord.” So Solomon sent word to⎦ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go! Strike him down!”[c]

30 Benaiah went to the Tent of the Lord and called to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”

Joab answered, “No. I will die here.”

So Benaiah reported back to the king, “This is what Joab said, and this is how I responded.”

31 The king said to him, “Do just as he said. Strike him dead and bury him. Remove from me and from my father’s house the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord has brought the blood he shed back on his own head, because he struck down two men who were more righteous and better than he was. He killed them with the sword, but my father David did not know about it. The blood of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah, 33 has come back on Joab’s head and on the heads of his descendants forever. But for David and his descendants and his house and his throne, there will be peace forever from the Lord.”

34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and killed him. He buried him at his house in the wilderness. 35 Then the king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army. He placed Zadok the priest into Abiathar’s position.

36 The king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go out of the city—ever! 37 On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure that you will die. Your blood will be on your own head.”

38 Shimei said to the king, “Your decision is good. Your servant will do just as my lord the king has said.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for some time. 39 At the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves fled to Achish son of Ma’akah, the king of Gath. Shimei was told, “Listen! Your slaves are in Gath.”

40 So Shimei saddled his donkey and went to Achish of Gath to look for his slaves. Then he brought them back from Gath.

41 Solomon was told that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned. 42 The king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not swear to you by the Lord and warn you that you could be sure that on the day you dared to go out of Jerusalem you would die? And didn’t you answer me, ‘Your decision is good. I have heard what you said’? 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “In your heart you know all the evil that you did to my father David. Now the Lord has brought your evil back on your own head. 45 Now may King Solomon be blessed, and may David’s throne be firmly established before the Lord forever.”

46 Then the king gave a command to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He went out and struck down Shimei and killed him. In this way the kingship was firmly established in the hands of Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 2:7 Literally do mercy or faithfulness with. The Hebrew expression denotes a covenant relationship.
  2. 1 Kings 2:23 Literally may God do all this to me and even more
  3. 1 Kings 2:29 In this verse, the words in half-brackets are not present in the Hebrew text but do appear in the Greek text. These words lie between two occurrences of the words Solomon sent word to, so the Hebrew copyist’s eye may have skipped from the first occurrence of these words to the second.

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

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:

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.

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.

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

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.

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.

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.

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

11 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 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

15 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 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

17 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 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

19 Bathsheba 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 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 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22 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 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 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 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

26 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

36 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 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 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 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 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 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

42 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 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

44 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 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.

46 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.