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
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 2
Commentary on 1 Kings 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter we have David setting and Solomon at the same time rising.
1Ki 2:1-11
David, that great and good man, is here a dying man (v. 1), and a dead man, v. 10. It is well there is another life after this, for death stains all the glory of this, and lays it in the dust. We have here,
1Ki 2:12-25
Here is,
1Ki 2:26-34
Abiathar and Joab were both aiding and abetting in Adonijah's rebellious attempt, and it is probable were at the bottom of this new motion made of Adonijah for Abishag, and it should seem Solomon knew it, v. 22. This was, in both, an intolerable affront both to God and to the government, and the worse because of their high station and the great influence their examples might have upon many. They therefore come next to be reckoned with. They are both equally guilty of the treason, but, in the judgment passed upon them, a difference is made and with good reason.
1Ki 2:35-46
Here is,