1 Kings 2:22-46 ▼

22 King Solomon (peace) answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite for Adonijah (my lord is YHWH)? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar (my father is great) the priest and for Joab (YHWH is father) son of Zeruiah (balsam)!”

23 Then King Solomon (peace) swore by the LORD {YHWH}: “May God {Elohim} punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) has not made this request at the expense of his life.

24 And now, as surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David (beloved), and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) shall be put to death today!”

25 So King Solomon (peace) gave orders to Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

26 Then the king said to Abiathar (my father is great) the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth (answers to prayer). Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} before my father David (beloved), and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”

27 So Solomon (peace) banished Abiathar (my father is great) from the priesthood of the LORD {YHWH} and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh (place of rest) against the house of Eli (ascension).

28 When the news reached Joab (YHWH is father), who had conspired with Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) but not with Absalom (my father is peace), he fled to the tent of the LORD {YHWH} and took hold of the horns of the altar.

29 It was reported to King Solomon (peace): “Joab (YHWH is father) has fled to the tent of the LORD {YHWH} and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), saying, “Go, strike him down!”

30 And Benaiah (YHWH has built up) entered the tent of the LORD {YHWH} and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab (YHWH is father) answered me.”

31 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab (YHWH is father) shed.

32 The LORD {YHWH} will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David (beloved) he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner (my father is a lamp) son of Ner (lamp), commander of Israel’s (he wrestles with God) army, and Amasa (burden) son of Jether (abundance), commander of Judah’s (praised) army.

33 Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab (YHWH is father) and his descendants forever; but for David (beloved), his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD {YHWH} forever.”

34 So Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows) went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

35 And the king appointed Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows) in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok (righteous) the priest in Abiathar’s (my father is great) place.

36 Then the king summoned Shimei (renowned) and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem (city of peace) and live there, but do not go anywhere else.

37 On the day you go out and cross the Kidron (dark) Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

38 “The sentence is fair,” Shimei (renowned) replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem (city of peace) for a long time.

39 After three years, however, two of Shimei’s (renowned) slaves ran away to Achish (I will blacken) son of Maacah (Maoch), king of Gath (winepress). And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

40 So Shimei (renowned) saddled his donkey and set out to Achish (I will blacken) at Gath (winepress) in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

41 When Solomon (peace) was told that Shimei (renowned) had gone from Jerusalem (city of peace) to Gath (winepress) and had returned,

42 the king summoned Shimei (renowned) and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD {YHWH} and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’

43 So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD {YHWH} and the command that I gave you?”

44 The king (renowned) also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David (beloved). Therefore the LORD {YHWH} will bring your evil back upon your head.

45 But King Solomon (peace) will be blessed and David’s (beloved) throne will remain secure before the LORD {YHWH} forever.”

46 Then the king commanded Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon (peace).