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Texts -- 1 Kings 2:1-43 (NET)

Context
David’s Final Words to Solomon
2:1 When David was close to death , he told Solomon his son : 2:2 “I am about to die . Be strong and become a man ! 2:3 Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules , commandments , regulations , and laws as written in the law of Moses . Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish , 2:4 and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, ‘If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being , then,’ he promised , ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel .’ 2:5 “You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me– how he murdered two commanders of the Israelite armies , Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether . During peacetime he struck them down like he would in battle ; when he shed their blood as if in battle , he stained his own belt and the sandals on his feet . 2:6 Do to him what you think is appropriate , but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death . 2:7 “Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs , because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom . 2:8 “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera , the Benjaminite from Bahurim , who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim . He came down and met me at the Jordan , and I solemnly promised him by the Lord , ‘I will not strike you down with the sword .’ 2:9 But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death .” 2:10 Then David passed away and was buried in the city of David . 2:11 David reigned over Israel forty years ; he reigned in Hebron seven years , and in Jerusalem thirty-three years .
Solomon Secures the Throne
2:12 Solomon sat on his father David’s throne , and his royal authority was firmly solidified . 2:13 Haggith’s son Adonijah visited Bathsheba , Solomon’s mother . She asked , “Do you come in peace ?” He answered , “Yes .” 2:14 He added , “I have something to say to you.” She replied , “Speak .” 2:15 He said , “You know that the kingdom was mine and all Israel considered me king . But then the kingdom was given to my brother , for the Lord decided it should be his. 2:16 Now I’d like to ask you for just one thing . Please don’t refuse me.” She said , “Go ahead and ask .” 2:17 He said , “Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife , for he won’t refuse you.” 2:18 Bathsheba replied , “That’s fine , I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.” 2:19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne . He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother , and she sat at his right hand . 2:20 She said , “I would like to ask you for just one small favor . Please don’t refuse me.” He said , “Go ahead and ask , my mother , for I would not refuse you.” 2:21 She said , “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife .” 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother , “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him ? Since he is my older brother , you should also request the kingdom for him , for Abiathar the priest , and for Joab son of Zeruiah !” 2:23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord , “May God judge me severely , if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life ! 2:24 Now , as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure , allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne , and established a dynasty for me as he promised ), Adonijah will be executed today !” 2:25 King Solomon then sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada , and he killed Adonijah. 2:26 The king then told Abiathar the priest , “Go back to your property in Anathoth . You deserve to die , but today I will not kill you because you did carry the ark of the sovereign Lord before my father David and you suffered with my father through all his difficult times .” 2:27 Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord , fulfilling the decree of judgment the Lord made in Shiloh against the family of Eli . 2:28 When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah , although he had not supported Absalom ), he ran to the tent of the Lord and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar . 2:29 When King Solomon heard that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord and was right there beside the altar , he ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada , “Go , strike him down .” 2:30 When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord , he said to him, “The king says , ‘Come out !’” But he replied , “No , I will die here !” So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab’s reply . 2:31 The king told him, “Do as he said ! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father’s family the guilt of Joab’s murderous , bloody deeds . 2:32 May the Lord punish him for the blood he shed ; behind my father David’s back he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more innocent and morally upright than he– Abner son of Ner , commander of Israel’s army , and Amasa son of Jether , commander of Judah’s army . 2:33 May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood , but may the Lord give perpetual peace to David , his descendants , his family , and his dynasty .” 2:34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and executed Joab; he was buried at his home in the wilderness . 2:35 The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to take his place at the head of the army , and the king appointed Zadok the priest to take Abiathar’s place . 2:36 Next the king summoned Shimei and told him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there – but you may not leave there to go anywhere ! 2:37 If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley , know for sure that you will certainly die ! You will be responsible for your own death .” 2:38 Shimei said to the king , “My master the king’s proposal is acceptable . Your servant will do as you say .” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time . 2:39 Three years later two of Shimei’s servants ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath . Shimei was told , “Look , your servants are in Gath .” 2:40 So Shimei got up , saddled his donkey , and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants ; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath . 2:41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned , 2:42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “You will recall that I made you take an oath by the Lord , and I solemnly warned you, ‘If you ever leave and go anywhere , know for sure that you will certainly die .’ You said to me, ‘The proposal is acceptable ; I agree to it.’ 2:43 Why then have you broken the oath you made before the Lord and disobeyed the order I gave you?”

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

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