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

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

3 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:

4 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.

5 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.

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

7 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.

8 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.

9 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.

1 Now the dayes of Dauid drew nigh, that he should die, and he charged Solomon his sonne, saying;

2 I goe the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thy selfe a man.

3 And keepe the charge of the Lord thy God, to walke in his wayes, to keepe his Statutes, and his Commandements, & his Iudgements, and his Testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoeuer thou turnest thy selfe:

4 That the Lord may continue his word which hee spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heede to their way, to walke before mee in trueth, with all their heart, and with all their soule, there shall not faile thee (sayd hee) a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Moreouer thou knowest also what Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah did to mee, and what he did to the two captaines of the hostes of Israel, vnto Abner the sonne of Ner, and vnto Amasa the sonne of Iether, whom hee slewe, and shed the blood of warre in peace, and put the blood of warre vpon his girdle that was about his loynes, and in his shooes that were on his feet.

6 Doe therefore according to thy wisedome, and let not his hoare head goe downe to the graue in peace.

7 But shewe kindnesse vnto the sonnes of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eate at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

8 And behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the sonne of Gera, a Beniamite of Bahurim, which cursed mee with a grieuous curse, in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but hee came downe to meete me at Iordane, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

9 Nowe therefore holde him not guiltlesse: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to doe vnto him, but his hoare head bring thou downe to the graue with blood.

10 So Dauid slept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid.

11 And the dayes that Dauid raigned ouer Israel, were fourty yeeres: seuen yeeres raigned hee in Hebron, and thirty and three yeeres raigned hee in Ierusalem.

12 Then sate Solomon vpon the throne of Dauid his father, and his kingdome was established greatly.

13 And Adoniiah the sonne of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she said, Commest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

14 He said moreouer, I haue somewhat to say vnto thee. And she saide, Say on.

15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdome was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should raigne: howbeit the kingdome is turned about, and is become my brothers: for it was his from the Lord.

16 And now I aske one petition of thee, deny me not. And she saide vnto him, Say on.

17 And hee saide, Speake, I pray thee, vnto Solomon the king (for hee will not say thee nay) that he giue me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

18 And Bathsheba said, Wel, I will speake for thee vnto the king.

19 Bathsheba therefore went vnto king Solomon, to speake vnto him for Adoniiah: and the king rose vp to meete her, and bowed himselfe vnto her, and sate downe on his throne, and caused a seate to bee set for the Kings mother, and she sate 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 vnto her, Aske on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay.

21 And she saide, Let Abishag the Shunammite be giuen to Adoniiah thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered, and said vnto his mother, And why doest thou aske Abishag the Shunammite for Adoniiah? Aske for him the kingdome also (for he is mine elder brother) euen for him, and for Abiathar the Priest, & for Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah.

23 Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God doe so to me, and more also, if Adoniiah haue not spoken this word against his owne life.

24 Now therefore as the Lord liueth, which hath established mee, and set mee on the throne of Dauid my father, and who hath made me an house as he promised, Adoniiah shall be put to death this day.

25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and he fell vpon him that he died.

26 And vnto Abiathar the Priest saide the King, Get thee to Anathoth, vnto thine own fields, for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the arke of the Lord God before Dauid my father, and because thou hast bene afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from beeing Priest vnto the Lord: that hee might fulfill the word of the Lord, which hee spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 Then tidings came to Ioab (for Ioab had turned after Adoniiah, though hee turned not after Absalom) and Ioab fled vnto the Tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the hornes of the Altar.

29 And it was told king Solomon that Ioab was fled vnto the Tabernacle of the Lord, and behold, hee is by the Altar: Then Solomon sent Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, saying, Goe fall vpon him.

30 And Benaiah came to the Tabernacle of the Lord, and said vnto him, Thus saith the king, Come foorth. And he said, Nay, but I will die heere. And Benaiah brought the king word againe, saying, Thus said Ioab, and thus he answered me.

31 And the king saide vnto him, Doe as he hath said, and fall vpon him, and bury him, that thou mayest take away the innocent blood which Ioab shed, from mee, and from the house of my father.

32 And the Lord shall returne his blood vpon his owne head, who fell vpon two men, more righteous and better then hee, and slew them with the sword, my father Dauid not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the sonne of Ner, captaine of the hoste of Israel, and Amasa the sonne of Iether, captaine of the hoste of Iudah.

33 Their blood shall therefore returne vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon the head of his seed for euer: but vpon Dauid, and vpon his seede, and vpon his house, and vpon his throne, shall there bee peace for euer from the Lord.

34 So Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada went vp, and fell vpon him, and slewe him, and hee was buried in his owne house in the wildernesse.

35 And the king put Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada in his roome ouer the hoste, and Zadok the Priest did the king put in the roume of Abiathar.

36 And the king sent, and called for Shimei, and said vnto him, Build thee an house in Ierusalem, and dwell there, and goe not forth thence any whither.

37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, & passest ouer the brooke Kidron, thou shalt know for certaine, that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shal be vpon thine owne head.

38 And Shimei said vnto the King, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy seruant doe. And Shimei dwelt in Ierusalem many dayes.

39 And it came to passe at the end of three yeeres, that two of the seruants of Shimei ranne away vnto Achish sonne of Maachah king of Gath: and they told Shimei, saying, Beholde, thy seruants be in Gath.

40 And Shimei arose, and sadled his asse, and went to Gath to Achish, to seeke his seruants: and Shimei went and brought his seruants from Gath.

41 And it was told Solomon, that Shimei had gone from Ierusalem to Gath, and was come againe.

42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said vnto him, Did I not make thee to sweare by the Lord, and protested vnto thee, saying, Know for a certaine, that on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? And thou saidest vnto me, The word that I haue heard, is good.

43 Why then hast thou not kept the Oath of the Lord, and the commandement that I haue charged thee with?

44 The king said moreuer to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickednesse which thine heart is priuie to, that thou diddest to Dauid my father: therefore the Lord shall returne thy wickednesse vpon thine owne head.

45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of Dauid shall bee established before the Lord for euer.

46 So the king commaunded Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, which went out, and fell vpon him, that he died, and the kingdome was established in the hand of Solomon.

I == Gen 47:29 ; Deut 31:14

 

II == Deut 17:19-20 ; Josh 23:14

 

III == Deut 29:9 ; Josh 1:7 ; 1st Sam 18:5 , 14 , 30 ; 1st Chr22:12-13

 

 

IV == 2nd Sam 7:12-13 , 25 ; 1st Kings 8:25 ; 2nd Kings 20:3 ; Ps 132:12

 

 

V == 2nd Sam 3:27 , 39 18:5 , 12 , 14 ; 19:5-7 ; 20:10

 

 

 

 

 

VI == 1st Kings 2:9 ; Prov 20:26

 

VII == 2nd Sam 9:7 , 10 ; 17:27 ; 19:28 , 31 , 38

 

 

VIII == 2nd Sam 16:5 ; 19:18 , 23

 

 

 

 

IX == Gen 42:38 ; 44:31 ; Ex 20:7 ; Job 9:28

 

 

X == 2nd Sam 5:7 ; 1st Kings 1:21 ; Acts 2:29 ; 13:36

XI == 2nd Sam 5:4 ; 1st Chr 29:26-27

 

XII == 1st Chr 29:23 ; 2nd Chr 1:1

 

XIII == 1st Sam 16:4-5

 

 

 

 

XV == 1st Kings 1:5 ; 1st Chr 22:9-10 ; 28:5-7 ; Prov 21:30 ; Dan 2:21

 

 

XVI == Ps 132:10

XVII == 1st Kings 1:3-4

 

 

 

 

XIX == Ex 20:12 ; Ps 45:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == 1st Kings 1:7

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII == Ruth 1:17

 

 

XXIV == 2nd Sam 7:11 , 13 ; 1st Chr 22:10

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Josh 21:18 ; 1st Sam 22:20 , 23 ; 23:6 ; 2nd Sam 15:24 , 29

 

 

 

 

XXVII == 1st Sam 2:31-35

 

 

XXVIII == 1st Kings 1:7 , 50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ex 21:14 ; Num 35:33 ; Deut 19:13 , 21:8-9

 

 

 

XXXII == Judg 9:24 , 57 ; 2nd Sam 3:27 ; 20:10 ; 2nd Chr 21:13 ; Ps 7:16

 

 

 

XXXIII == 2nd Sam 3:29 ; Prov 25:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == Num 25:11-13 ; 1st Sam 2:35 ; 1st Kings 2:27 ; 1st Chr 6:53 ; 24:3

XXXVI == 2nd Sam 16:5 ; 1st Kings 2:8

 

XXXVII == Lev 20:9 ; Josh 2:19 ; 2nd Sam 1:16 ; 15:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIX == 1st Sam 27:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLIV == 2nd Sam 16:5 ; Ps 7:16 ; Ezek 17:19

 

 

XLV == Prov 25:5

 

XLVI == 1st Kings 2:12 ; 2nd Chr 1:1

 

 

1 When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:

2 "I am going the way of all mankind. Take courage and be a man.

3 Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, n

4 and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.'

5 You yourself know what Joab, son of Zeruiah, did to me when he slew the two generals of Israel's armies, Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether. He took revenge for the blood of war in a time of peace, and put bloodshed without provocation on the belt about my waist and the sandal on my foot.

6 Act with the wisdom you possess; you must not allow him to go down to the grave in peaceful old age.

7 "But be kind to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and have them eat at your table. For they received me kindly when I was fleeing your brother Absalom.

8 "You also have with you Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, who cursed me balefully when I was going to Mahanaim. Because he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD that I would not put him to the sword.

9 But you must not let him go unpunished. You are a prudent man and will know how to deal with him to send down his hoary head in blood to the grave."

10 David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.

11 The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

12 When Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David, with his sovereignty firmly established,

13 Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. "Do you come as a friend?" she asked. "Yes," he answered,

14 and added, "I have something to say to you." She replied, "Say it."

15 So he said: "You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel expected me to be king. But the kingdom escaped me and became my brother's, for the LORD gave it to him.

16 But now there is one favor I would ask of you. Do not refuse me." And she said, "Speak on."

17 He said, "Please ask King Solomon, who will not refuse you, to give me Abishag the Shunamite for my wife."

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

19 Then Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king's mother, who sat at his right.

20 "There is one small favor I would ask of you," she said. "Do not refuse me." "Ask it, my mother," the king said to her, "for I will not refuse you."

21 So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunamite be given to your brother Adonijah for his wife."

22 "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunamite for Adonijah?" King Solomon answered his mother. "Ask the kingdom for him as well, for he is my elder brother and has with him Abiathar the priest and Joab, son of Zeruiah."

23 And King Solomon swore by the LORD: "May God do thus and so to me, and more besides, if Adonijah has not proposed this at the cost of his life.

24 And now, as the LORD lives, who has seated me firmly on the throne of my father David and made of me a dynasty as he promised, this day shall Adonijah be put to death."

25 Then King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who struck him dead.

26 The king said to Abiathar the priest: "Go to your land in Anathoth. Though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David and shared in all the hardships my father endured."

27 So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his office of priest of the LORD, thus fulfilling the prophecy which the LORD had made in Shiloh about the house of Eli.

28 When the news came to Joab, who had sided with Adonijah, though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and seized the horns of the altar.

29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was at the altar. He sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, with the order, "Go, strike him down."

30 Benaiah went to the tent of the LORD and said to him, "The king says, 'Come out.'" But he answered, "No! I will die here." Benaiah reported to the king, "This is what Joab said to me in reply."

31 The king answered him: "Do as he has said, Strike him down and bury him, and you will remove from me and from my family the blood which Joab shed without provocation.

32 The LORD will hold him responsible for his own blood, because he struck down two men better and more just than himself, and slew them with the sword without my father David's knowledge: Abner, son of Ner, general of Israel's army, and Amasa, son of Jether, general of Judah's army.

33 Joab and his descendants shall be responsible forever for their blood. But there shall be the peace of the LORD forever for David, and his descendants, and his house, and his throne."

34 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, went back, struck him down and killed him; he was buried in his house in the desert.

35 The king appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, over the army in his place, and put Zadok the priest in place of Abiathar.

36 Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him: "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go anywhere else.

37 For if you leave, and cross the Kidron Valley, be certain you shall die without fail. You shall be responsible for your own blood."

38 Shimei answered the king: "I accept. Your servant will do just as the king's majesty has said." So Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 But three years later, two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath, and Shimei was informed that his servants were in Gath.

40 So Shimei rose, saddled his ass, and went to Achish in Gath in search of his servants, whom he brought back.

41 When Solomon was informed that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned,

42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him: "Did I not have you swear by the LORD to your clear understanding of my warning that, if you left and went anywhere else, you should die without fail? And you answered, 'I accept and obey.'

43 Why, then, have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the command that I gave you?"

44 And the king said to Shimei: "You know in your heart the evil that you did to my father David. Now the LORD requites you for your own wickedness.

45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and David's throne shall endure before the LORD forever."

46 The king then gave the order to Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who struck him dead as he left.

v 1. Since David was not well, this probably happened soon after chapter one.

v 2-4. Parental advice to Solomon, be strong, be a man, obey and follow God in truth with all his heart and soul, and God would prosper him and assure the kingdom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 5,6. David had obtained great mercy from God, and extended mercy to Joab for his years of faithfulness. However, sin needed to be dealt with as a new reign is begun, so he leaves it to Solomon to use his judgment in Joab’s punishment, v 28-34. Joab isn’t condemned for his personal defection, but for murder of Abner and Amasa.

 

v 7. Solomon is to continue David’s commitment to Barzillai, 2 Sam. 31-39.

 

v 8,9. David had been merciful to Shimei in the day of victory, but in his wisdom, Solomon should be prepared to execute him without regard to gray hair, v 36-46.

 

 

 

 

 

v 10,11. David died around 70 years of age after reigning 40 years, and was buried in Jerusalem. See 1 Chr. 29:26-30, where three uninspired writings are listed.

v 12. Solomon’s reign is covered in 2:12 to 11:43. This verse is elaborated on in 1 Chr. 29:23-25. He prospered, Israel obeyed him, all princes, mighty men and even the sons of King David submitted to him, and his majesty exceeded that of previous kings.

v 13-18. That Bathsheba was suspicious of Adonijah is seen by her questioning if he came peaceably, but  he convinced her intentions were proper. However, he was subtil in maneuvering to yet get hold of the kingdom. He arrogantly stated that the kingdom was his and that all Israel wanted him, which was hardly true. He admits it was Solomon’s from the Lord, probably he knew that before he tried to take over. So he asks  what seems to her like a simple request, that he could marry the virgin that had kept David warm in his old age. She didn’t realize that the young lady, though still a virgin, was part of David’s harem, and as such, giving her to Adonijah would be conceding that he actually had claim to the throne.

 

v 19-25. Bathsheba thought this was just a small request, but Solomon saw right through it. As his older brother and ordinarily in line for the throne, Adonijah had just as well asked for the kingdom for himself and his followers. Solomon ordered his immediate execution to stop further insurrection on his part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 26,27. Abiathar had probably knowingly gone against God’s choice, but because of previous faithfulness, he was only removed from office, 1 Sam. 2:27-36. It is many times years before what God orders comes to pass.

 

 

 

 

v 28-34. Though Joab was  not executed for his part in the rebellion, it opened the door to execute him for his previous murders. thus clearing the household of David from any blood guilt. Some people fled to the altar instead of a city of refuge, Num. 35:11, but that could only delay the execution of a deliberate murderer. Joab, as a murderer, could not find mercy at the altar, but refused to leave, so he was slain there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 35. The new high priest and leading general are now duly installed. v 36-46. Shimei was worthy of death for his actions and threats against David, but Solomon gave him a chance to prove himself. All  he had to do was remain only in Jerusalem and his life would be spared. However, when he went to Gath to bring back two servants who had run away, his reprieve was broken. Solomon reminded him of his breech of agreement and his wickedness against David, then had him immediately executed. Solomon’s deposition of his enemies confirmed his kingdom.