1 Kings 2:1–18

David’s Instructions to Solomon

2ⁿWhen David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, ^2o“I am about to go the way of all the earth. ^pBe strong, and show yourself a man, ³and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, ^qthat you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, ⁴that the Lord may ^restablish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ^s‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, ^tto walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, ^uyou shall not lack¹ a man on the throne of Israel.’

⁵“Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah ^vdid to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, ^wAbner the son of Ner, ^xand Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging² in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war³ on the belt around his⁴ waist and on the sandals on his feet. ⁶Act therefore ^yaccording to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. ⁷But deal loyally with the sons of ^zBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them be ^aamong those who eat at your table, ^bfor with such loyalty⁵ they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. ⁸And there is also with you ^cShimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day ^dwhen I went to Mahanaim. ^eBut when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ ⁹Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, ^ffor you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall ^gbring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

The Death of David

^10hThen David slept with his fathers and was buried in ⁱthe city of David. ¹¹And the time that David reigned over Israel was ^jforty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ^12kSo Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

Solomon’s Reign Established

¹³Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, ^l“Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” ¹⁴Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” ¹⁵He said, “You know that ^mthe kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, ⁿfor it was his from the Lord. ¹⁶And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” ¹⁷And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me ^oAbishag the Shunammite as my wife.” ¹⁸Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”