1 Kings 2:1-25

Christian Standard Bible

David’s Dying Instructions to Solomon

2 As the time approached for David to die,^(A) he ordered his son Solomon, ² “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth.^(B) Be strong and be a man,^{(C) 3} and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do^(D) and wherever you turn, ⁴ and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul,^(E) you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’^(F)

⁵ “You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me^(G) and what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner^(H) and Amasa son of Jether.^(I) He murdered them in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.^{[a] 6} Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.

⁷ “Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table^(J) because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.^(K)

⁸ “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(L) But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’^{(M) 9} So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors^(N) and was buried in the city of David.^{(O) 11} The length of time David reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.^{(P) 12} Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.^(Q)

Adonijah’s Foolish Request

¹³ Now Adonijah son of Haggith^(R) came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come peacefully?”

“Peacefully,” he replied,^{(S) 14} and then asked, “May I talk with you?” ^[b]

“Go ahead,” she answered.

¹⁵ “You know the kingship was mine,”^(T) he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother,^(U) for the Lord gave it to him.^{(V) 16} So now I have just one request of you; don’t turn me down.”^[c]

She said to him, “Go on.”

¹⁷ He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite^(W) as a wife.”

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

¹⁹ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, sat down on his throne, and had a throne placed for the king’s mother.^(X) So she sat down at his right hand.^(Y)

²⁰ Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.”

“Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

²¹ So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my elder brother,^(Z) you might as well ask the kingship for him,^(AA) for the priest Abiathar, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”^{[d](AB) 23} Then King Solomon took an oath by the Lord: “May God punish me and do so severely^(AC) if Adonijah has not made this request at the cost of his life. ²⁴ And now, as the Lord lives—the one who established me, seated me on the throne of my father David, and made me a dynasty as he promised^(AD)—I swear Adonijah will be put to death today!” ²⁵ Then King Solomon dispatched Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(AE) who struck down Adonijah, and he died.