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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Kings 2 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_kings/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_kings/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ESV</a> > 1 Kings 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_kings/1.htm" title="1 Kings 1">◄</a> 1 Kings 2 <a href="../1_kings/3.htm" title="1 Kings 3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/1_kings/2.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">David’s Instructions to Solomon</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>and keep the charge of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>that the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew there shall not be cut off for you">a</a></sup></span> a man on the throne of Israel.’</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint; Hebrew placing">b</a></sup></span> in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint innocent blood">c</a></sup></span> on the belt around his<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint my; twice in this verse">d</a></sup></span> waist and on the sandals on his feet. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or steadfast love">e</a></sup></span> they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”</p> <p class="heading">The Death of David</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.</p> <p class="heading">Solomon’s Reign Established</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said to him, “Speak.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew and for him and for Abiathar">f</a></sup></span> the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Then King Solomon swore by the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, saying, “God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Now therefore as the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord <span class="divine-name">God</span> before David my father, and because you shared in all my father’s affliction.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, thus fulfilling the word of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> and caught hold of the horns of the altar. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>So Benaiah came to the tent of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The king replied to him, “Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father’s house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> forevermore.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>And Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in Gath,” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘What you say is good; I will obey.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>Why then have you not kept your oath to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> and the commandment with which I commanded you?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> will bring back your harm on your own head. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> forever.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/2-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died.</p><p class="regular">So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> Hebrew <i>there shall not be cut off for you</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Septuagint; Hebrew <i>placing</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Septuagint <i>innocent blood</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Septuagint <i>my</i>; twice in this verse<br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> Or <i>steadfast love</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">f</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew <i><span class="catch-word">and</span> for him and for Abiathar</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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