2Since it was almost time for David to die, he gave his son Solomon his last commands. ²David said, “My time to die is near. Be a good and strong leader. ³Obey the Lord your God. Follow him by obeying his demands, his commands, his laws, and his rules that are written in the teachings of Moses. If you do these things, you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ⁴And if you obey the Lord, he will keep the promise he made to me. He said: ‘If your descendants live as I tell them and have complete faith in me, a man from your family will always be king over the people 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 and Amasa son of Jether. He did this as if he and they were at war, although it was a time of peace. He put their blood on the belt around his waist and on his sandals on his feet. ⁶Punish him in the way you think is wisest, but do not let him die peacefully of old age.

⁷“Be kind to the children of Barzillai of Gilead, and allow them to eat at your table. They welcomed me when I ran away from your brother Absalom.

⁸“And remember, Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite, is here with you. He cursed me the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I promised him before the Lord, ‘Shimei, I will not kill you.’ ⁹But you should not leave him unpunished. You are a wise man, and you will know what to do to him, but you must be sure he is killed.”

¹⁰Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. ¹¹He had ruled over Israel forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon Takes Control as King

¹²Solomon became king after David, his father, and he was in firm control of his kingdom.

¹³At this time Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Do you come in peace?” Bathsheba asked.

“Yes. This is a peaceful visit,” Adonijah answered. ¹⁴“I have something to say to you.”

“You may speak,” she said.

¹⁵“You remember that at one time the kingdom was mine,” Adonijah said. “All the people of Israel recognized me as their king, but things have changed. Now my brother is the king, because the Lord chose him. ¹⁶Now I have one thing to ask you; please do not refuse me.”

Bathsheba answered, “What do you want?”

¹⁷“I know King Solomon will do anything you ask him,” Adonijah continued. “Please ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite to be my wife.”

¹⁸“Very well,” she answered. “I will speak to the king for you.”

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