¹ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

² I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;

³ And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

⁴ That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

⁵ Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

⁶ Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

⁷ But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

⁸ And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

⁹ Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

¹⁰ So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

¹¹ And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

¹² Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

¹³ And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

¹⁴ He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

¹⁵ And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

¹⁶ And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

¹⁷ And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

¹⁸ And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

¹⁹ Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

²⁰ Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

²¹ And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

²² And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

²³ Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴ Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

²⁵ And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

²⁶ And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

²⁷ So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

²⁹ And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

³⁰ And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

³¹ And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

³² And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

³³ Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.

³⁴ So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

³⁵ And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

³⁶ And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

³⁷ For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

³⁸ And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.

⁴⁰ And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

⁴¹ And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

⁴² And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.

⁴³ Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

⁴⁴ The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

⁴⁵ And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

---

¹ Now the days ^H3117 of David ^H1732 drew nigh ^H7126 that he should die; ^H4191 and he charged ^H6680 Solomon ^H8010 his son, ^H1121 saying, ^H559

² I go ^H1980 the way ^H1870 of all the earth: ^H776 be thou strong ^H2388 therefore, and shew thyself a man; ^H376

³ And keep ^H8104 the charge ^H4931 of the LORD ^H3068 thy God, ^H430 to walk ^H3212 in his ways, ^H1870 to keep ^H8104 his statutes, ^H2708 and his commandments, ^H4687 and his judgments, ^H4941 and his testimonies, ^H5715 as it is written ^H3789 in the law ^H8451 of Moses, ^H4872 that thou mayest prosper ^H7919 in all that thou doest, ^H6213 and whithersoever thou turnest ^H6437 thyself:

⁴ That the LORD ^H3068 may continue ^H6965 his word ^H1697 which he spake ^H1696 concerning me, saying, ^H559 If thy children ^H1121 take heed ^H8104 to their way, ^H1870 to walk ^H3212 before ^H6440 me in truth ^H571 with all their heart ^H3824 and with all their soul, ^H5315 there shall not fail ^H3772 thee (said ^H559 he) a man ^H376 on the throne ^H3678 of Israel. ^H3478

⁵ Moreover thou knowest ^H3045 also what Joab ^H3097 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah ^H6870 did ^H6213 to me, and what he did ^H6213 to the two ^H8147 captains ^H8269 of the hosts ^H6635 of Israel, ^H3478 unto Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 and unto Amasa ^H6021 the son ^H1121 of Jether, ^H3500 whom he slew, ^H2026 and shed ^H7760 the blood ^H1818 of war ^H4421 in peace, ^H7965 and put ^H5414 the blood ^H1818 of war ^H4421 upon his girdle ^H2290 that was about his loins, ^H4975 and in his shoes ^H5275 that were on his feet. ^H7272

⁶ Do ^H6213 therefore according to thy wisdom, ^H2451 and let not his hoar head ^H7872 go down ^H3381 to the grave ^H7585 in peace. ^H7965

⁷ But shew ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 unto the sons ^H1121 of Barzillai ^H1271 the Gileadite, ^H1569 and let them be of those that eat ^H398 at thy table: ^H7979 for so they came ^H7126 to me when I fled ^H1272 because ^H6440 of Absalom ^H53 thy brother. ^H251

⁸ And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei ^H8096 the son ^H1121 of Gera, ^H1617 a Benjamite ^H1145 of Bahurim, ^H980 which cursed ^H7043 me with a grievous ^H4834 curse ^H7045 in the day ^H3117 when I went ^H3212 to Mahanaim: ^H4266 but he came down ^H3381 to meet ^H7125 me at Jordan, ^H3383 and I sware ^H7650 to him by the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 I will not put thee to death ^H4191 with the sword. ^H2719

⁹ Now therefore hold him not guiltless: ^H5352 for thou art a wise ^H2450 man, ^H376 and knowest ^H3045 what thou oughtest to do ^H6213 unto him; but his hoar head ^H7872 bring thou down ^H3381 to the grave ^H7585 with blood. ^H1818

¹⁰ So David ^H1732 slept ^H7901 with his fathers, ^H1 and was buried ^H6912 in the city ^H5892 of David. ^H1732

¹¹ And the days ^H3117 that David ^H1732 reigned ^H4427 over Israel ^H3478 were forty ^H705 years: ^H8141 seven ^H7651 years ^H8141 reigned ^H4427 he in Hebron, ^H2275 and thirty ^H7970 and three ^H7969 years ^H8141 reigned ^H4427 he in Jerusalem. ^H3389

¹² Then sat ^H3427 Solomon ^H8010 upon the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 his father; ^H1 and his kingdom ^H4438 was established ^H3559 greatly. ^H3966

¹³ And Adonijah ^H138 the son ^H1121 of Haggith ^H2294 came ^H935 to Bathsheba ^H1339 the mother ^H517 of Solomon. ^H8010 And she said, ^H559 Comest ^H935 thou peaceably? ^H7965 And he said, ^H559 Peaceably. ^H7965

¹⁴ He said ^H559 moreover, I have somewhat to say ^H1697 unto thee. And she said, ^H559 Say on. ^H1696

¹⁵ And he said, ^H559 Thou knowest ^H3045 that the kingdom ^H4410 was mine, and that all Israel ^H3478 set ^H7760 their faces ^H6440 on me, that I should reign: ^H4427 howbeit the kingdom ^H4410 is turned about, ^H5437 and is become my brother's: ^H251 for it was his from the LORD. ^H3068

¹⁶ And now I ask ^H7592 one ^H259 petition ^H7596 of thee, deny ^H7725 me ^H6440 not. And she said ^H559 unto him, Say on. ^H1696

¹⁷ And he said, ^H559 Speak, ^H559 I pray thee, unto Solomon ^H8010 the king, ^H4428 (for he will not say ^H7725 thee ^H6440 nay,) ^H7725 that he give ^H5414 me Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 to wife. ^H802

¹⁸ And Bathsheba ^H1339 said, ^H559 Well; ^H2896 I will speak ^H1696 for thee unto the king. ^H4428

¹⁹ Bathsheba ^H1339 therefore went ^H935 unto king ^H4428 Solomon, ^H8010 to speak ^H1696 unto him for Adonijah. ^H138 And the king ^H4428 rose up ^H6965 to meet ^H7125 her, and bowed ^H7812 himself unto her, and sat down ^H3427 on his throne, ^H3678 and caused a seat ^H3678 to be set ^H7760 for the king's ^H4428 mother; ^H517 and she sat ^H3427 on his right hand. ^H3225

²⁰ Then she said, ^H559 I desire ^H7592 one ^H259 small ^H6996 petition ^H7596 of thee; I pray thee, say ^H7725 me ^H6440 not nay. ^H7725 And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto her, Ask on, ^H7592 my mother: ^H517 for I will not say ^H7725 thee ^H6440 nay. ^H7725

²¹ And she said, ^H559 Let Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 be given ^H5414 to Adonijah ^H138 thy brother ^H251 to wife. ^H802

²² And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559 unto his mother, ^H517 And why dost thou ask ^H7592 Abishag ^H49 the Shunammite ^H7767 for Adonijah? ^H138 ask ^H7592 for him the kingdom ^H4410 also; for he is mine elder ^H1419 brother; ^H251 even for him, and for Abiathar ^H54 the priest, ^H3548 and for Joab ^H3097 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah. ^H6870

²³ Then king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 sware ^H7650 by the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 God ^H430 do ^H6213 so to me, and more also, ^H3254 if Adonijah ^H138 have not spoken ^H1696 this word ^H1697 against his own life. ^H5315

²⁴ Now therefore, as the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 which hath established ^H3559 me, and set ^H3427 me on the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 my father, ^H1 and who hath made ^H6213 me an house, ^H1004 as he promised, ^H1696 Adonijah ^H138 shall be put to death ^H4191 this day. ^H3117

²⁵ And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 sent ^H7971 by the hand ^H3027 of Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada; ^H3077 and he fell ^H6293 upon him that he died. ^H4191

²⁶ And unto Abiathar ^H54 the priest ^H3548 said ^H559 the king, ^H4428 Get ^H3212 thee to Anathoth, ^H6068 unto thine own fields; ^H7704 for thou art worthy ^H376 of death: ^H4194 but I will not at this time ^H3117 put thee to death, ^H4191 because thou barest ^H5375 the ark ^H727 of the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3069 before ^H6440 David ^H1732 my father, ^H1 and because thou hast been afflicted ^H6031 in all wherein my father ^H1 was afflicted. ^H6031

²⁷ So Solomon ^H8010 thrust out ^H1644 Abiathar ^H54 from being priest ^H3548 unto the LORD; ^H3068 that he might fulfil ^H4390 the word ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 which he spake ^H1696 concerning the house ^H1004 of Eli ^H5941 in Shiloh. ^H7887

²⁸ Then tidings ^H8052 came ^H935 to Joab: ^H3097 for Joab ^H3097 had turned ^H5186 after ^H310 Adonijah, ^H138 though he turned ^H5186 not after ^H310 Absalom. ^H53 And Joab ^H3097 fled ^H5127 unto the tabernacle ^H168 of the LORD, ^H3068 and caught hold ^H2388 on the horns ^H7161 of the altar. ^H4196

²⁹ And it was told ^H5046 king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 that Joab ^H3097 was fled ^H5127 unto the tabernacle ^H168 of the LORD; ^H3068 and, behold, he is by ^H681 the altar. ^H4196 Then Solomon ^H8010 sent ^H7971 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada, ^H3077 saying, ^H559 Go, ^H3212 fall ^H6293 upon him.

³⁰ And Benaiah ^H1141 came ^H935 to the tabernacle ^H168 of the LORD, ^H3068 and said ^H559 unto him, Thus saith ^H559 the king, ^H4428 Come forth. ^H3318 And he said, ^H559 Nay; but I will die ^H4191 here. And Benaiah ^H1141 brought ^H7725 the king ^H4428 word ^H1697 again, ^H7725 saying, ^H559 Thus said ^H1696 Joab, ^H3097 and thus he answered ^H6030 me.

³¹ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Do ^H6213 as he hath said, ^H1696 and fall ^H6293 upon him, and bury ^H6912 him; that thou mayest take away ^H5493 the innocent ^H2600 blood, ^H1818 which Joab ^H3097 shed, ^H8210 from me, and from the house ^H1004 of my father. ^H1

³² And the LORD ^H3068 shall return ^H7725 his blood ^H1818 upon his own head, ^H7218 who fell ^H6293 upon two ^H8147 men ^H582 more righteous ^H6662 and better ^H2896 than he, and slew ^H2026 them with the sword, ^H2719 my father ^H1 David ^H1732 not knowing ^H3045 thereof, to wit, Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 captain ^H8269 of the host ^H6635 of Israel, ^H3478 and Amasa ^H6021 the son ^H1121 of Jether, ^H3500 captain ^H8269 of the host ^H6635 of Judah. ^H3063

³³ Their blood ^H1818 shall therefore return ^H7725 upon the head ^H7218 of Joab, ^H3097 and upon the head ^H7218 of his seed ^H2233 for ever: ^H5769 but upon David, ^H1732 and upon his seed, ^H2233 and upon his house, ^H1004 and upon his throne, ^H3678 shall there be peace ^H7965 for ^H5704 ever ^H5769 from the LORD. ^H3068

³⁴ So Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077 went up, ^H5927 and fell ^H6293 upon him, and slew ^H4191 him: and he was buried ^H6912 in his own house ^H1004 in the wilderness. ^H4057

³⁵ And the king ^H4428 put ^H5414 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada ^H3077 in his room over the host: ^H6635 and Zadok ^H6659 the priest ^H3548 did the king ^H4428 put ^H5414 in the room of Abiathar. ^H54

³⁶ And the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 and called ^H7121 for Shimei, ^H8096 and said ^H559 unto him, Build ^H1129 thee an house ^H1004 in Jerusalem, ^H3389 and dwell ^H3427 there, and go not forth ^H3318 thence any whither. ^H575

³⁷ For it shall be, that on the day ^H3117 thou goest out, ^H3318 and passest over ^H5674 the brook ^H5158 Kidron, ^H6939 thou shalt know ^H3045 for certain ^H3045 that thou shalt surely ^H4191 die: ^H4191 thy blood ^H1818 shall be upon thine own head. ^H7218

³⁸ And Shimei ^H8096 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 The saying ^H1697 is good: ^H2896 as my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 hath said, ^H1696 so will thy servant ^H5650 do. ^H6213 And Shimei ^H8096 dwelt ^H3427 in Jerusalem ^H3389 many ^H7227 days. ^H3117

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end ^H7093 of three ^H7969 years, ^H8141 that two ^H8147 of the servants ^H5650 of Shimei ^H8096 ran away ^H1272 unto Achish ^H397 son ^H1121 of Maachah ^H4601 king ^H4428 of Gath. ^H1661 And they told ^H5046 Shimei, ^H8096 saying, ^H559 Behold, thy servants ^H5650 be in Gath. ^H1661

⁴⁰ And Shimei ^H8096 arose, ^H6965 and saddled ^H2280 his ass, ^H2543 and went ^H3212 to Gath ^H1661 to Achish ^H397 to seek ^H1245 his servants: ^H5650 and Shimei ^H8096 went, ^H3212 and brought ^H935 his servants ^H5650 from Gath. ^H1661

⁴¹ And it was told ^H5046 Solomon ^H8010 that Shimei ^H8096 had gone ^H1980 from Jerusalem ^H3389 to Gath, ^H1661 and was come again. ^H7725

⁴² And the king ^H4428 sent ^H7971 and called ^H7121 for Shimei, ^H8096 and said ^H559 unto him, Did I not make thee to swear ^H7650 by the LORD, ^H3068 and protested ^H5749 unto thee, saying, ^H559 Know ^H3045 for a certain, ^H3045 on the day ^H3117 thou goest out, ^H3318 and walkest ^H1980 abroad any whither, ^H575 that thou shalt surely ^H4191 die? ^H4191 and thou saidst ^H559 unto me, The word ^H1697 that I have heard ^H8085 is good. ^H2896

⁴³ Why then hast thou not kept ^H8104 the oath ^H7621 of the LORD, ^H3068 and the commandment ^H4687 that I have charged ^H6680 thee with?

⁴⁴ The king ^H4428 said ^H559 moreover to Shimei, ^H8096 Thou knowest ^H3045 all the wickedness ^H7451 which thine heart ^H3824 is privy to, ^H3045 that thou didst ^H6213 to David ^H1732 my father: ^H1 therefore the LORD ^H3068 shall return ^H7725 thy wickedness ^H7451 upon thine own head; ^H7218

⁴⁵ And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 shall be blessed, ^H1288 and the throne ^H3678 of David ^H1732 shall be established ^H3559 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 for ^H5704 ever. ^H5769

⁴⁶ So the king ^H4428 commanded ^H6680 Benaiah ^H1141 the son ^H1121 of Jehoiada; ^H3077 which went out, ^H3318 and fell ^H6293 upon him, that he died. ^H4191 And the kingdom ^H4467 was established ^H3559 in the hand ^H3027 of Solomon. ^H8010

---

¹ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

² I am going the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;

³ and keep the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, `and' his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.

⁴ That Jehovah may establish his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

⁵ Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

⁶ Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to Sheol in peace.

⁷ But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother.

⁸ And, behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I sware to him by Jehovah, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

⁹ Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.

¹⁰ And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

¹¹ And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

¹² And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

¹³ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

¹⁴ He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

¹⁵ And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from Jehovah.

¹⁶ And now I ask one petition of thee; deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

¹⁷ And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king (for he will not say thee nay), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

¹⁸ And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

¹⁹ Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

²⁰ Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.

²¹ And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

²² And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

²³ Then king Solomon sware by Jehovah, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah hath not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴ Now therefore as Jehovah liveth, who hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

²⁵ And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him, so that he died.

²⁶ And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

²⁷ So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto Jehovah, that he might fulfil the word of Jehovah, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

²⁹ And it was told king Solomon, Joab is fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

³⁰ And Benaiah came to the Tent of Jehovah, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

³¹ And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.

³² And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not, `to wit', Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

³³ So shall their blood return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Jehovah.

³⁴ Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

³⁵ And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

³⁶ And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

³⁷ For on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, know thou for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

³⁸ And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants are in Gath.

⁴⁰ And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

⁴¹ And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

⁴² And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not adjure thee by Jehovah, and protest unto thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The saying that I have heard is good.

⁴³ Why then hast thou not kept the oath of Jehovah, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

⁴⁴ The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thy heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore Jehovah shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.

⁴⁵ But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah for ever.

⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell upon him, so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

---

¹ And draw near do the days of David to die, and he chargeth Solomon his son, saying,

² `I am going in the way of all the earth, and thou hast been strong, and become a man,

³ and kept the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commands, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that thou dost wisely all that thou dost, and whithersoever thou turnest,

⁴ so that Jehovah doth establish His word which He spake unto me, saying, If thy sons observe their way to walk before Me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul; saying, There is not cut off a man of thine from the throne of Israel.

⁵ `And also, thou hast known that which he did to me -- Joab son of Zeruiah -- that which he did to two heads of the hosts of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether -- that he slayeth them, and maketh the blood of war in peace, and putteth the blood of war in his girdle, that `is' on his loins, and in his sandals that `are' on his feet;

⁶ and thou hast done according to thy wisdom, and dost not let his old age go down in peace to Sheol.

⁷ `And to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite thou dost do kindness, and they have been among those eating at thy table, for so they drew near unto me in my fleeing from the face of Absalom thy brother.

⁸ `And lo, with thee `is' Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, and he reviled me -- a grievous reviling -- in the day of my going to Mahanaim; and he hath come down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swear to him by Jehovah, saying, I do not put thee to death by the sword;

⁹ and now, acquit him not, for a wise man thou `art', and thou hast known that which thou dost to him, and hast brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.'

¹⁰ And David lieth down with his fathers, and is buried in the city of David,

¹¹ and the days that David hath reigned over Israel `are' forty years, in Hebron he hath reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem he hath reigned thirty and three years.

¹² And Solomon hath sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom is established greatly,

¹³ and Adonijah son of Haggith cometh in unto Bath-Sheba, mother of Solomon, and she saith, `Is thy coming peace?' and he saith, `Peace.'

¹⁴ And he saith, `I have a word unto thee,' and she saith, `Speak.'

¹⁵ And he saith, `Thou hast known that the kingdom was mine, and towards me set their faces had all Israel for reigning, and the kingdom is turned round about, and is my brother's, for from Jehovah it was his;

¹⁶ and now, one petition I am asking of thee -- turn not back my face;' and she saith unto him, `Speak.'

¹⁷ And he saith, `Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king, for he doth not turn back thy face, and he doth give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.'

¹⁸ And Bath-Sheba saith, `Good; I do speak for thee unto the king.'

¹⁹ And Bath-Sheba cometh in unto king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king riseth to meet her, and boweth himself to her, and sitteth on his throne, and placeth a throne for the mother of the king, and she sitteth at his right hand.

²⁰ And she saith, `One small petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;' and the king saith to her, `Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.'

²¹ And she saith, `Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother for a wife.'

²² And king Solomon answereth and saith to his mother, `And why art thou asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? also ask for him the kingdom -- for he `is' mine elder brother -- even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.'

²³ And king Solomon sweareth by Jehovah, saying, `Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add -- surely against his soul hath Adonijah spoken this word;

²⁴ and now, Jehovah liveth, who hath established me, and causeth me to sit on the throne of David my father, and who hath made for me an house as He spake -- surely to-day is Adonijah put to death.'

²⁵ And king Solomon sendeth by the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he falleth upon him, and he dieth.

²⁶ And to Abiathar the priest said the king, `To Anathoth go, unto thy fields; for a man of death thou `art', but in this day I do not put thee to death, because thou hast borne the ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all that my father was afflicted in.'

²⁷ And Solomon casteth out Abiathar from being priest to Jehovah, to fulfil the word of Jehovah which He spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ And the report hath come unto Joab -- for Joab hath turned aside after Adonijah, though after Absalom he did not turn aside -- and Joab fleeth unto the tent of Jehovah, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.

²⁹ And it is declared to king Solomon that Joab hath fled unto the tent of Jehovah, and lo, near the altar; and Solomon sendeth Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, `Go, fall upon him.'

³⁰ And Benaiah cometh in unto the tent of Jehovah, and saith unto him, `Thus said the king, Come out;' and he saith, `Nay, but here I die.' And Benaiah bringeth back the king word, saying, `Thus spake Joab, yea, thus he answered me.'

³¹ And the king saith to him, `Do as he hath spoken, and fall upon him, and thou hast buried him, and turned aside the causeless blood which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father;

³² and Jehovah hath turned back his blood on his own head, who hath fallen on two men more righteous and better than he, and slayeth them with the sword, -- and my father David knew not -- Abner son of Ner, head of the host of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, head of the host of Judah;

³³ yea, turned back hath their blood on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed to the age; and for David, and for his seed, and for his house, and for his throne, there is peace unto the age, from Jehovah.'

³⁴ And Benaiah son of Jehoiada goeth up and falleth upon him, and putteth him to death, and he is buried in his own house in the wilderness,

³⁵ and the king putteth Benaiah son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host, and Zadok the priest hath the king put in the stead of Abiathar.

³⁶ And the king sendeth and calleth for Shimei, and saith to him, `Build for thee a house in Jerusalem, and thou hast dwelt there, and dost not go out thence any where;

³⁷ and it hath been, in the day of thy going out, and thou hast passed over the brook Kidron, thou dost certainly know that thou dost surely die -- thy blood is on thy head.'

³⁸ And Shimei saith to the king, `The word `is' good; as my lord the king hath spoken so doth thy servant do;' and Shimei dwelleth in Jerusalem many days.

³⁹ And it cometh to pass, at the end of three years, that flee do two of the servants of Shimei unto Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath, and they declare to Shimei, saying, `Lo, thy servants `are' in Gath;'

⁴⁰ and Shimei riseth, and saddleth his ass, and goeth to Gath, unto Achish, to seek his servants, and Shimei goeth and bringeth his servants from Gath.

⁴¹ And it is declared to Solomon that Shimei hath gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and doth return,

⁴² and the king sendeth and calleth for Shimei, and saith unto him, `Have I not caused thee to swear by Jehovah -- and I testify against thee, saying, In the day of thy going out, and thou hast gone anywhere, thou dost certainly know that thou dost surely die; and thou sayest unto me, The word I have heard `is' good?

⁴³ and wherefore hast thou not kept the oath of Jehovah, and the charge that I charged upon thee?'

⁴⁴ And the king saith unto Shimei, `Thou hast known all the evil that thy heart hath known, which thou didest to David my father, and Jehovah hath turned back thine evil on thy head,

⁴⁵ and king Solomon `is' blessed, and the throne of David is established before Jehovah unto the age.'

⁴⁶ And the king chargeth Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he goeth out and falleth on him, and he dieth, and the kingdom is established in the hand of Solomon.

---

¹ And the days of David were at hand that he should die; and he enjoined Solomon his son saying,

² I go the way of all the earth: be of good courage therefore, and be a man;

³ and keep the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thyself;

⁴ that Jehovah may confirm his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If thy sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said he, a man upon the throne of Israel.

⁵ And thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his sandals that were on his feet.

⁶ And thou shalt do according to thy wisdom, and not let his hoar head go down to Sheol in peace.

⁷ But shew kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came up to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

⁸ And behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day that I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Jehovah saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

⁹ And now hold him not guiltless; for thou art a wise man, and thou shalt know what thou oughtest to do to him; but bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.

¹⁰ And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

¹¹ And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

¹² And Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

¹³ And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

¹⁴ And he said, I have something to say to thee. And she said, Speak.

¹⁵ And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their faces on me that I should reign; but the kingdom is turned about and is become my brother's, for it was his from Jehovah.

¹⁶ And now I ask one petition of thee; refuse me not. And she said to him, Speak.

¹⁷ And he said, Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king -- for he will not refuse thee -- that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.

¹⁸ And Bathsheba said, Well, I will speak for thee to the king.

¹⁹ And Bathsheba went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne; and he caused a throne to be set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right hand.

²⁰ Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; refuse me not. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse thee.

²¹ And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother as wife.

²² And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

²³ And king Solomon swore by Jehovah saying, God do so to me, and more also, -- Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life!

²⁴ And now [as] Jehovah liveth, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

²⁵ And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; who fell on him, that he died.

²⁶ And the king said to Abiathar the priest, Go to Anathoth, to thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death; but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst bear the ark of Adonai Jehovah before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

²⁷ And Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Jehovah, to fulfil the word of Jehovah, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ And the report came to Joab (for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom); and Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.

²⁹ And it was told king Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of Jehovah; and behold, he is by the altar. And Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.

³⁰ And Benaiah came to the tent of Jehovah and said to him, Thus saith the king: Come forth. And he said, No; for I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

³¹ And the king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall upon him, and bury him; and take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me and from the house of my father.

³² And Jehovah shall requite the blood which he shed upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, without my father David's knowledge: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

³³ And their blood shall be requited upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever; but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Jehovah.

³⁴ And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell upon him, and put him to death; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

³⁵ And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host; and Zadok the priest the king put in the stead of Abiathar.

³⁶ And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and abide there, and go not forth thence anywhere.

³⁷ And it shall be that on the day thou goest forth, and passest over the torrent of Kidron, ... know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

³⁸ And Shimei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two servants of Shimei's ran away to Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei saying, Behold, thy servants are in Gath.

⁴⁰ Then Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath, to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

⁴¹ And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had come again.

⁴² And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Did I not make thee swear by Jehovah, and protest to thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest forth, and walkest abroad anywhere, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst to me, The word that I have heard is good.

⁴³ Why then hast thou not kept the oath of Jehovah, and the commandment that I charged thee with?

⁴⁴ And the king said to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness of which thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to David my father; and Jehovah returns thy wickedness upon thine own head;

⁴⁵ and king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah for ever.

⁴⁶ And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; who went out and fell upon him, and he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

---

¹ Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

² I am going the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man;

³ and keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, [and] his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself.

⁴ That Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

⁵ Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

⁶ Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

⁷ But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

⁸ Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.

⁹ Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.

¹⁰ David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

¹¹ The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

¹² Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

¹³ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Come you peaceably? He said, Peaceably.

¹⁴ He said moreover, I have somewhat to tell you. She said, Say on.

¹⁵ He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh.

¹⁶ Now I ask one petition of you; don't deny me. She said to him, Say on.

¹⁷ He said, Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.

¹⁸ Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you to the king.

¹⁹ Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

²⁰ Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; don't deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.

²¹ She said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.

²² King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

²³ Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴ Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

²⁵ King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.

²⁶ To Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bear the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.

²⁷ So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

²⁹ It was told king Solomon, Joab is fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.

³⁰ Benaiah came to the Tent of Yahweh, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

³¹ The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.

³² Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it, [to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

³³ So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever: but to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh.

³⁴ Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

³⁵ The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

³⁶ The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don't go forth from there any where.

³⁷ For on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know you for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head.

³⁸ Shimei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

³⁹ It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath.

⁴⁰ Shimei arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

⁴¹ It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

⁴² The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good.

⁴³ Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have charged you with?

⁴⁴ The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head.

⁴⁵ But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever.

⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

---

¹ Now the time of David's death came near; and he gave orders to Solomon his son, saying,

² I am going the way of all the earth: so be strong and be a man;

³ And keep the orders of the Lord your God, walking in his ways, keeping his laws and his orders and his rules and his words, as they are recorded in the law of Moses; so that you may do well in all you do and wherever you go,

⁴ So that the Lord may give effect to what he said of me, If your children give attention to their ways, living uprightly before me with all their heart and their soul, you will never be without a man to be king in Israel.

⁵ Now you have knowledge of what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me, and to the two captains of the army of Israel, Abner, the son of Ner, and Amasa, the son of Jether, whom he put to death, taking payment for the blood of war in time of peace, and making the band of my clothing and the shoes on my feet red with the blood of one put to death without cause.

⁶ So be guided by your wisdom, and let not his white head go down to the underworld in peace.

⁷ But be good to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be guests at your table; for so they came to me when I went in flight from Absalom your brother.

⁸ Now you have with you Shimei, the son of Gera the Benjamite of Bahurim, who put a bitter curse on me on the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to see me at Jordan, and I gave him my oath by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death by the sword.

⁹ But do not let him be free from punishment, for you are a wise man; and it will be clear to you what you have to do with him; see that his white head goes down to the underworld in blood.

¹⁰ Then David went to rest with his fathers, and his body was put into the earth in the town of David.

¹¹ David was king over Israel for forty years: for seven years he was king in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

¹² And Solomon took his place on the seat of David his father, and his kingdom was made safe and strong.

¹³ Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, came to Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon. And she said, Come you in peace? And he said, Yes, in peace.

¹⁴ Then he said, I have something to say to you. And she said, Say on.

¹⁵ And he said, You saw how the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had the idea that I would be their king; but now the kingdom is turned about, and has become my brother's, for it was given to him by the Lord.

¹⁶ Now I have one request to make to you, and do not say, No, to me. And she said to him, Say on.

¹⁷ Then he said, Will you go to Solomon the king (for he will not say, No, to you) and put before him my request that he will give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife?

¹⁸ And Bath-sheba said, Good! I will make your request to the king.

¹⁹ So Bath-sheba went to King Solomon to have talk with him on Adonijah's account. And the king got up to come to her, and went down low to the earth before her; then he took his place on the king's seat and had a seat made ready for the king's mother and she took her place at his right hand.

²⁰ Then she said, I have one small request to make to you; do not say, No, to me. And the king said, Say on, my mother, for I will not say, No, to you.

²¹ And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother for a wife.

²² Then King Solomon made answer and said to his mother, Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side.

²³ Then King Solomon took an oath by the Lord, saying, May God's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life.

²⁴ Now by the living Lord, who has given me my place on the seat of David my father, and made me one of a line of kings, as he gave me his word, truly Adonijah will be put to death this day.

²⁵ And King Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and he made an attack on him and put him to death.

²⁶ And to Abiathar the priest the king said, Go to Anathoth, to your fields; for death would be your right reward; but I will not put you to death now, because you took up the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and you were with him in all his troubles.

²⁷ So Solomon let Abiathar be priest no longer, so that he might make the word of the Lord come true which he said about the sons of Eli in Shiloh.

²⁸ And news of this came to Joab; for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters, though he had not been on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of the Lord, and put his hands on the horns of the altar.

²⁹ And they said to King Solomon, Joab has gone in flight to the Tent of the Lord and is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, make an attack on him.

³⁰ And Benaiah came to the Tent of the Lord and said to him, The king says, Come out. And he said, No; but let death come to me here. And Benaiah went back to the king and gave him word of the answer which Joab had given.

³¹ And the king said, Do as he has said and make an attack on him there, and put his body into the earth; so that you may take away from me and from my family the blood of one put to death by Joab without cause.

³² And the Lord will send back his blood on his head, because of the attack he made on two men more upright and better than himself, putting them to the sword without my father's knowledge; even Abner, the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.

³³ So their blood will be on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed for ever; but for David and his seed and his family and the seat of his kingdom, there will be peace for ever from the Lord.

³⁴ So Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up, and falling on him, put him to death; and his body was put to rest in his house in the waste land.

³⁵ And the king put Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, in his place over the army; and Zadok the priest he put in the place of Abiathar.

³⁶ Then the king sent for Shimei, and said to him, Make a house for yourself in Jerusalem and keep there and go to no other place.

³⁷ For be certain that on the day when you go out and go over the stream Kidron, death will overtake you: and your blood will be on your head.

³⁸ And Shimei said to the king, Very well! as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. And for a long time Shimei went on living in Jerusalem.

³⁹ But after three years, two of the servants of Shimei went in flight to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And word was given to Shimei that his servants had gone to Gath.

⁴⁰ Then Shimei got up, and making ready his ass, he went to Gath, to Achish, in search of his servants; and he sent and got them from Gath.

⁴¹ And news was given to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back again.

⁴² Then the king sent for Shimei, and said to him, Did I not make you take an oath by the Lord, protesting to you and saying, Be certain that on the day when you go out from here, wherever you go, death will overtake you? and you said to me, Very well!

⁴³ Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the order which I gave you?

⁴⁴ And the king said to Shimei, You have knowledge of all the evil which you did to David my father; and now the Lord has sent back your evil on yourself.

⁴⁵ But a blessing will be on King Solomon, and the kingdom of David will keep its place before the Lord for ever.

⁴⁶ So the king gave orders to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and, falling on him, put him to death. And Solomon's authority over the kingdom was complete.