1Kings:2

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* David was about to die . He called his son Solomon and gave him his last instructions : * »It is my time to die . I go the way of all people of the earth . Be strong and be a man . * »Do what Jehovah your God orders you to do . Obey all his laws and commands , as written in the Law of Moses . That way wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do . * »‘If you obey Jehovah he will keep the promise he made when he told me , ‘Your descendants will rule Israel as long as they are careful to obey my commands faithfully with all their heart and being .’ * »Remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel 's armies , Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether . You remember how he murdered them in time of peace . This was revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war . He killed innocent men . I bear the responsibility for what he did . I suffer the consequences . * »You know what to do . You must not let him die a natural death . * »But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead and take care of them . They were kind to me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom . * "There is also Shimei son of Gera , from the town of Bahurim in Benjamin . He cursed me with a bitter curse the day I went to Mahanaim . When he met me at the Jordan River , I gave him my solemn promise in the name of Jehovah , saying , ‘I will not have you killed by the sword .’« * »However you must not let him go unpunished . You know what to do . You must make sure he is put to death .« * David died and was buried in David 's City . * He was king of Israel for forty years . He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem . * Solomon succeeded his father David as king . His royal power was firmly established . * Adonijah , son of Haggith , went to Bathsheba , Solomon 's mother . »Is this a friendly visit ?« She asked . »Yes ,« he answered . * I have something to discuss with you . He said . What is it ? She asked . * He said : »You know the kingship was mine . All Israel expected me to be their king . But the kingship has been turned over to my brother because Jehovah gave it to him . * »I have one request to make to you . Do not say no to me .« She responded : »Tell me .« * He said : »Will you go to Solomon the king for he will not say ‘No ’ to you . And make my request that he give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife ?« * Bathsheba said : »Indeed , I will make your request to the king .« * So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him for Adonijah . The king stood up to meet her and bowed down to her . He took his place on the king 's throne and she sat at his right hand on the seat made ready for the king 's mother . * Then she said : »I have one small request to make of you . Do not say ‘No ’ to me .« The king replied : »Speak mother for I will not say no to you .« * She said : »Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother for a wife .« * Then King Solomon answered : »Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah ? Take the kingdom for him in addition , for he is my older brother , and Abiathar the priest and Joab , the son of Zeruiah , are on his side .« * King Solomon took an oath by Jehovah , saying : »May God 's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life . * »Now by the living God Jehovah who has given me my throne from David my father . He made me one of a line of kings . He gave me his word . Adonijah will be put to death this day .« * King Solomon sent Benaiah , the son of Jehoiada to attack and kill him . * The king spoke to Abiathar the priest : »Go to your fields at Anathoth . You deserve death . But I will not put you to death now , because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father . You were with him in all his troubles .« * Solomon did not allow Abiathar to be priest any longer . So the word of Jehovah came true concerning the sons of Eli in Shiloh . * Joab received news of this for Joab had been one of Adonijah 's supporters . He was not on Absalom 's side . Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of Jehovah and put his hands on the corners of the altar . * When King Solomon heard about this he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to kill him . * Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah and told Joab : Come out . Joab said : »No ! Let me die here .« So Benaiah returned to the king and gave him the answer Joab gave him . * The king said : »Do as he said . Kill him there and bury him in the earth . This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from my father ’s family and me . * »Jehovah will punish Joab for those murders he committed without my father David 's knowledge . Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he : Abner , commander of the army of Israel , and Amasa , commander of the army of Judah . * »Jehovah will repay him for the blood Joab shed . The blood will fall on Joab and on his descendants as long as they live . Jehovah will always give success to David 's descendants who sit on his throne .« * So Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah ’s presence and killed Joab . He was buried at his home in the wilderness . * The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab 's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar 's place . * The king sent for Shimei and said to him : »Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem . Live in it and do not leave the city . * »If you ever leave and go beyond Kidron Brook , you will die and it will be your fault .« * »As you say , Your Majesty ,« Shimei answered . »I will do what you say .« So he lived in Jerusalem a long time . * Three years later , however , two of Shimei 's slaves ran away to the king of Gath , Achish son of Maacah . When Shimei heard that they were in Gath , * he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath , to find his slaves . He found them and brought them back home . * When Solomon heard what Shimei did , * he sent for him and said : »I made you promise in Jehovah ’s name not to leave Jerusalem . I warned you that if you ever did , you would die . Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me ? * »Why did you break your promise and disobey my command ? * »You know very well all the wrong that you did to my father David . Jehovah will punish you for it . * »But he will bless me , and he will make David 's kingdom secure forever .« * The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada . He killed Shimei . Solomon was now in complete control .

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