1 Kings 2:1-21 ▼

1 As the time drew near for David (beloved) to die, he charged his son Solomon (peace),

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man.

3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses (drawn out), so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,

4 and so that the LORD {YHWH} may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel (he wrestles with God).’

5 Moreover, you know what Joab (YHWH is father) son of Zeruiah (balsam) did to me—what he did to Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp) and Amasa (burden) son of Jether (Ithra), the two commanders of the armies of Israel (he wrestles with God). He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.

6 So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

7 But show loving devotion {chesed} to the sons of Barzillai (my iron) the Gileadite (rocky region), and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom (my father is peace).

8 Keep an eye on Shimei (renowned) the son of Gera (a grain), the Benjamite (son of the right hand) from Bahurim (young men's village) who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim (two camps), but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan (flowing down), I swore to him by the LORD {YHWH}: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’

9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

10 Then David (beloved) rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

11 The length of David’s (beloved) reign over Israel (he wrestles with God) was forty years—seven years in Hebron (association) and thirty-three years in Jerusalem (city of peace).

12 So Solomon (peace) sat on the throne of his father David (beloved), and his kingdom was firmly established.

13 Now Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) son of Haggith (festive) went to Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) the mother of Solomon (peace), and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.

14 Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.

15 “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel (he wrestles with God) expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD {YHWH}.

16 So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.

17 Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon (peace), since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite as my wife.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

19 So Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) went to King Solomon (peace) to speak to him for Adonijah (my lord is YHWH). The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

20 “I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

21 So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) as his wife.”