The Death of David^(A)

2 ·Since it was almost time [As the time approached] for David to die, he gave ·his son Solomon his last commands [this charge to Solomon]. ² David said, “·My time to die is near [^LI am going the way of all the earth]. Be ·a good and strong leader [^Lstrong and show yourself a man]. ³ ·Obey [Observe the injunctions/requirements of] the Lord your God. ·Follow him [Walk in his ways] by obeying his demands, his ·commands [statutes; ordinances; requirements], his laws, and his ·rules [regulations] that are written in the ·teachings [Law; ^LTorah] of Moses. If you do these things, you will ·be successful [prosper] in all you do and wherever you ·go [turn]. ⁴ And if you obey the Lord, he will ·keep the promise he made to [fulfill the word he spoke concerning] me. He said: ‘If your descendants ·live as I tell them [^Lare careful of their way] and ·have complete faith in me [^Lwalk in truth/faith before me], ·a man from your family will always be king over the people [^Lthey will never fail to have a man on the throne] of Israel.’

⁵ “Also, you remember what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me. He killed the two commanders of Israel’s armies: Abner son of Ner [2 Sam. 3:22–39] and Amasa son of Jether [2 Sam. 20:8–10]. ·He did this as if he and they were at war, although it was a time of peace [or…retaliating in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war]. He ·put their blood on [stained with their blood] the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. ⁶ ·Punish him in [^LAct] the way you think is wisest, but do not let him ·die peacefully of old age [go to Sheol/the grave in peace; ^Cthe place of the dead].

⁷ “·Be kind [Show love] to the children of Barzillai of Gilead, and allow them to eat at your table. They ·welcomed [cared for; stood by] me when I ·ran away [fled] from your brother Absalom.

⁸ “And remember, Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite, is here with you. He cursed ·me [^Lme violently/with a terrible curse] the day I went to Mahanaim [2 Sam. 16:5–19]. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I ·promised [vowed/swore to] him before the Lord, ‘Shimei, I will not ·kill you [^Lput you to death by the sword; 2 Sam 19:16–23].’ ⁹ But you should not ·leave him unpunished [consider him innocent/guiltless]. You are a wise man, and you will know what to do to him, ·but you must be sure he is killed [^Land will bring his bloody gray head to Sheol/the grave; 2:6].”

¹⁰ Then David ·died [^Llay down/^Tslept with his fathers/ancestors] and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David [^CJerusalem]. ¹¹ He had ·ruled [reigned] over Israel forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.