David’s Charge to Solomon

1 As David’s 1atime to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2 “aI am going the way of all the earth. bBe strong, therefore, and 1show yourself a man.

3 “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, aaccording to what is written in the Law of Moses, that byou may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,

4 so that athe Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘bIf your sons are careful of their way, cto walk before Me in 1truth with all their heart and with all their soul, 2dyou shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Now you also know what Joab the ason of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to bAbner the son of Ner, and to cAmasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also 1shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt 2about his waist, and on his sandals 3on his feet.

6 “aSo act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to 1Sheol in peace.

7 “But ashow kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and blet them be among those who eat at your table; cfor they 1assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

8 “Behold, athere is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite, of Bahurim; now it was he who cursed me with a 1violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when bhe came down to me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’

9 “Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, afor you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to 1Sheol with blood.”

Death of David

10 Then aDavid slept with his fathers and was buried in bthe city of David.

11 aThe days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: bseven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.

12 And aSolomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.