1 Kings 2: David's charge to Solomon, David's death, and the deaths of Adonijah, Joab and Shimei
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What happens?
When David is about to die, he tells Solomon to be strong and to keep the commands of Yahweh written in the law of Moses. He tells him to act by his wisdom with Joab, who killed Abner and Amasa, and not to let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace; to show kindness to the sons of Barzillai; and not to hold Shimei guiltless, who cursed David, but to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood. David dies and is buried in the City of David after reigning forty years. Adonijah asks Bathsheba to ask King Solomon for Abishag the Shunammite as his wife; Solomon swears that Adonijah has spoken against his own life, and Benaiah kills him. Solomon sends Abiathar the priest away to Anathoth, and the text says this fulfilled Yahweh's word about the house of Eli. Joab flees to Yahweh's Tent and takes hold of the horns of the altar, and Benaiah kills him. Solomon tells Shimei to live in Jerusalem and never cross the brook Kidron; after three years Shimei goes to Gath for his runaway slaves, and Benaiah kills him. The kingdom is made firm in Solomon's hand.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. David gives Solomon his charge in verses 2 to 9; in verse 4 he gives words he says Yahweh spoke about him, and those are David's report, not Yahweh speaking in the scene. Bathsheba and Adonijah speak together in verses 13 to 18, and Bathsheba and Solomon in verses 20 to 22. Solomon swears by Yahweh in verses 23 and 24; that is his own oath. Solomon speaks to Abiathar in verse 26. Solomon is told about Joab in verse 29 and gives Benaiah his order; Benaiah, Joab and Solomon speak in verses 30 to 33, and what Solomon says Yahweh will do (verses 32 and 33) is his own words. Solomon speaks to Shimei in verses 36 and 37 and in verses 42 to 45, and Shimei answers in verse 38. Shimei is told about his slaves in verse 39. Verse 27, that Solomon's act fulfilled Yahweh's word about the house of Eli, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
In plain English: When the time came near for David to die, he gave his son Solomon his orders (this Bible: commanded Solomon his son), saying,
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2“I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
In plain English: "I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong, and show yourself a man.
Good to know: Joshua used the same words before he died: "today I am going the way of all the earth" ().
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3and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself.
In plain English: Keep the charge (this Bible: instruction) of Yahweh your God: walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, his commandments, his rulings (this Bible: ordinances) and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may do well (or: act wisely) in all that you do and wherever you turn.
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4Then Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’
In plain English: Then Yahweh may keep (this Bible: establish) the word he spoke about me, saying, 'If your children watch their way, to walk before me in faithfulness (this Bible: truth) with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never lack (this Bible: there shall not fail you),' he said, 'a man on the throne of Israel.'
Good to know: These are David's words: he gives what he says Yahweh spoke about him, so they are not in gold. The text has not given these words in this form before. Nathan's message about David's offspring and throne is in to . Solomon speaks of the same promise, with the "if", in his prayer in , and in Yahweh speaks of it to Solomon: "There shall not fail from you a man on the throne of Israel".
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5“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist and in his sandals that were on his feet.
In plain English: You also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me: what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether. He killed them, and he shed (literally: set) the blood of war in time of peace, and put the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.
Good to know: Joab killed Abner in the gate of Hebron () and Amasa at the great stone in Gibeon ( to ). names Amasa's father "Ithra the Israelite", and "Jether the Ishmaelite".
The Hebrew words: "Shed the blood of war in peace" is word for word "set the blood of war in peace": Joab killed in time of peace as men kill in war. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has the second "blood of war" as "innocent blood".
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6Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
In plain English: So act by your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol (the world of the dead) in peace.
Good to know: "His gray head" is seybah, which the dictionary gives as "old age". For Sheol, see the note on . The text gives David's charge as he spoke it, and does not comment on it.
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7But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
In plain English: But show kindness (or: loyalty) to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they came to me in the same way when I fled from your brother Absalom.
Good to know: Barzillai the Gileadite brought food to David at Mahanaim when he fled from Absalom ( to ), and David asked him to come and live with him in Jerusalem (). "Kindness" is chesed, which the dictionary gives as "kindness"; the STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "loyalty".
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8“Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’
In plain English: Look, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim. He cursed me with a bitter (this Bible: grievous) curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'
Good to know: Shimei cursed David at Bahurim (). When David came back over the Jordan, he said to Shimei, "You will not die", and "The king swore to him" (). "Grievous" is marats, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to be pungent or vehement".
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9Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”
In plain English: So now, do not leave him unpunished (this Bible: don't hold him guiltless), for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."
The Hebrew word: "Hold him guiltless" is from naqah, which the dictionary gives as "to be (or make) clean". David tells Solomon not to treat Shimei as clean of guilt. The text gives David's words as he spoke them, and does not comment on them.
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10David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city.
In plain English: David lay down (this Bible: slept) with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.
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11The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
In plain English: David reigned over Israel forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers; see the note on . gives seven years and six months in Hebron.
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12Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.
In plain English: Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was made very firm (this Bible: firmly established).
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13Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably.
In plain English: Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, "Do you come in peace?" He said, "In peace."
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14He said moreover, I have something to tell you.” She said, “Say on.”
In plain English: Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Speak."
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15He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.
In plain English: He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel looked to me (literally: set their faces on me) to be king. But the kingdom has turned around and become my brother's, for it was his from Yahweh.
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16Now I ask one petition of you. Don’t deny me.” She said to him, “Say on.”
In plain English: Now I am asking you one thing. Do not turn me away (literally: turn back my face)." She said to him, "Speak."
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17He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”
In plain English: He said, "Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not turn you away (literally: turn back your face), so that he will give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
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18Bathsheba said, “All right. I will speak for you to the king.”
In plain English: Bathsheba said, "Good. I will speak to the king for you."
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19Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
In plain English: So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king got up to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand.
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20Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”
In plain English: Then she said, "I am asking you one small thing. Do not turn me away." The king said to her, "Ask, my mother, for I will not turn you away."
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21She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
In plain English: She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife."
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22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
In plain English: King Solomon answered his mother, "Why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for the kingdom for him too, for he is my older brother: for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!"
Good to know: Solomon's own words say how he heard the request: "Ask for him the kingdom also". The text does not explain more. Earlier, Absalom went in to his father's concubines "in the sight of all Israel" (), and Ishbosheth asked Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" (). For the end of the verse, the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "and he has for his companion Abiathar the priest, and Joab".
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23Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
In plain English: Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, "May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
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24Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”
In plain English: So now, as surely as Yahweh lives, who has made me firm and set me on the throne of my father David, and who has made me a house (or: a family line) as he promised, Adonijah will be put to death today."
The Hebrew word: "A house" is bayith; see the note on , where the word means both a building and a family line. Here Solomon speaks of the house Yahweh "promised": in Yahweh says he "will make you a house".
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25King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.
In plain English: King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (literally: sent by the hand of Benaiah), and he struck him down (literally: fell on him), and he died.
The Hebrew word: "Fell on him" is paga, which the dictionary gives as "to impinge, by accident or violence": to meet or to strike. In this chapter it is used for the deaths of Adonijah, Joab and Shimei (verses 25, 29, 31, 34 and 46), and in verse 32 for Joab killing Abner and Amasa. The text says plainly that Benaiah killed them at the king's order.
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26To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord Yahweh’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”
In plain English: To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you deserve death (literally: you are a man of death). But I will not put you to death today, because you carried the ark of the Lord Yahweh before my father David, and because you shared in all the hardships (this Bible: were afflicted in all) my father suffered."
Good to know: Anathoth was a town given to the priests (). Abiathar escaped to David when the priests of Nob were killed at Saul's order ( to ), and he was with the ark when David fled from Absalom ().
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27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
In plain English: So Solomon drove Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, to fulfill Yahweh's word that he had spoken about the house of Eli in Shiloh.
Good to know: This is the word the man of God spoke to Eli in to ; see the note on 1 Samuel 2:35. Abiathar was "one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub" (), and names an Ahitub who was Ichabod's brother, of the family of Eli. In "Solomon thrust Abiathar out", the word is garash, which the dictionary gives as "to drive out from a possession".
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28This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to Yahweh’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.
In plain English: The news came to Joab, for Joab had sided with (literally: turned aside after) Adonijah, though he had not sided with Absalom. Joab fled to Yahweh's Tent and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Good to know: The Hebrew says Joab "did not turn aside after Absalom". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "he went not after Solomon" instead. For the horns of the altar, see the note on .
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29King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to Yahweh’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”
In plain English: King Solomon was told, "Joab has fled to Yahweh's Tent, and look, he is beside the altar." Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down (literally: fall on him)."
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30Benaiah came to Yahweh’s Tent, and said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” He said, “No; but I will die here.” Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”
In plain English: Benaiah came to Yahweh's Tent and said to him, "The king says, 'Come out!'" He said, "No, I will die here." Benaiah brought word back to the king: "This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me."
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31The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
In plain English: The king said to him, "Do as he has said. Strike him down (literally: fall on him) and bury him, so that you take away from me and from my father's house the blood that Joab shed without cause.
The Hebrew word: "Without cause" is chinnam, which the dictionary gives as "gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage". Solomon says that the blood Joab shed is on him and on his father's house until it is taken away.
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32Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.
In plain English: Yahweh will bring his blood back on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David did not know it: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
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33So their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from Yahweh.”
In plain English: So their blood will come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house and for his throne, there will be peace from Yahweh forever."
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34Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
In plain English: Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, struck him down (literally: fell on him) and killed him. He was buried at his own house in the wilderness.
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35The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
In plain English: The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
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36The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don’t go anywhere else.
In plain English: The king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go out from there to anywhere else (word for word: to where and where).
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37For on the day you go out and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head.”
In plain English: For on the day you go out and cross the brook (or: the valley) Kidron, know for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head."
Good to know: The Kidron is qidron, which the dictionary gives as "a brook near Jerusalem". The Hebrew calls it a nachal, a stream or its valley. David crossed it when he fled from Absalom (), and soon after came to Bahurim, Shimei's home ().
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38Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.
In plain English: Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time (literally: many days).
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39At the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your slaves are in Gath.”
In plain English: At the end of three years, two of Shimei's slaves (or: servants) ran away to Achish the son of Maacah, king of Gath. Shimei was told, "Look, your slaves are in Gath."
Good to know: When David went over to the Philistines, he went to "Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath" (). The text does not say whether this Achish is the same man.
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40Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his slaves; and Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath.
In plain English: Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves. Shimei went and brought his slaves back from Gath.
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41Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had come again.
In plain English: Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.
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42The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Didn’t I adjure you by Yahweh and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and walk anywhere else, you shall surely die’? You said to me, ‘The saying that I have heard is good.’
In plain English: The king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by Yahweh, and warn you, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go anywhere else, you will surely die'? And you said to me, 'What I have heard is good.'
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43Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh and the commandment that I have instructed you with?”
In plain English: Then why have you not kept the oath of Yahweh and the command I gave you?"
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44The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to David my father. Therefore Yahweh will return your wickedness on your own head.
In plain English: The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the evil (this Bible: wickedness) that you did to my father David. So Yahweh will bring your evil back on your own head.
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45But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will be established before Yahweh forever.”
In plain English: But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will be made firm (this Bible: established) before Yahweh forever."
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46So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
In plain English: So the king gave the order to Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down (literally: fell on him), and he died. And the kingdom was made firm (this Bible: established) in Solomon's hand.
Good to know: The narrator tells all three deaths plainly and does not comment on them. Verse 12 said "his kingdom was firmly established", and the chapter ends with "the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has more lines in this chapter, after verse 35 and after verse 46, that the Hebrew does not have.
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.