1 Kings 2:1–18

David’s Instruction to Solomon

²When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying:^{* 2}“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous,^{* 3}and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.^{* 4}Then the Lord will establish his word that he spoke concerning me: ‘If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.’^*

⁵“Moreover, you know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, whom he murdered, retaliating in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war and putting innocent blood^e on the belt around my^f waist and on the sandals on my^g feet.^{* 6}Act, therefore, according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.^{* 7}Deal loyally, however, with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from your brother Absalom.^{* 8}There is also with you Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a terrible curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’^{* 9}Therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do to him, and you must bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”^*

Death of David

¹⁰Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.^{* 11}The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.^{* 12}So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.^*

Solomon Consolidates His Reign

¹³Then Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably.”^{* 14}Then he said, “May I have a word with you?” She said, “Go on.” ¹⁵He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to reign; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the Lord.^{* 16}And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Go on.” ¹⁷He said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”^{* 18}Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak to the king on your behalf.”