<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Treat fairly<n id="1" /> the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs,<n id="2" /> because they helped me<n id="3" /> when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.p>

Solomon replied, &#8220;You demonstrated<n id="1" /> great loyalty to your servant, my father David, as he served<n id="2" /> you faithfully, properly, and sincerely.<n id="3" /> You have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to sit on his throne.<n id="4" />

He prayed:<n id="1" /> &#8220;O <sc>Lord,sc> God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty<n id="2" /> to your servants who obey you with sincerity.<n id="3" />

His advisers<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.<n id="2" /> Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads<n id="3" /> and surrender<n id="4" /> to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.&#8221;