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1 Kings 2 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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David’s Command to Solomon

2 As David’s [a](A)time to die drew near, he commanded his son Solomon, saying, 2 “(B)I am going the way of all the earth. So (C)be strong, and [b]prove yourself a man. 3 Do your duty to the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to [c]keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, (D)according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that (E)you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that (F)the Lord may fulfill His [d]promise which He spoke regarding me, saying, ‘(G)If your sons are careful about their way, (H)to walk before Me in [e]truth with all their heart and all their soul, [f](I)you shall not be deprived of a man to occupy the throne of Israel.’

5 “Now you yourself also know what Joab the (J)son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to (K)Abner the son of Ner and to (L)Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also [g]shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt that was on his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. 6 (M)So act as your wisdom dictates, and do not let his gray hair go down to [h]Sheol in peace. 7 However, (N)show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and (O)let them be among those who eat at your table; (P)for [i]they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And behold, you have with you (Q)Shimei the son of Gera the Benjaminite, of Bahurim; now it was he who cursed me with a painful curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when (R)he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 But now do not leave him unpunished, (S)for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to [j]Sheol with blood.”

Death of David

10 Then (T)David [k]lay down with his fathers, and he was buried in (U)the city of David. 11 Now (V)the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: in Hebron he reigned for (W)seven years, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years. 12 Then (X)Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

13 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, “(Y)Do you come peacefully?” And he said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Speak.” 15 So he said, “You yourself know that (Z)the kingdom was mine and (AA)that all Israel [l]intended for me to be king; (AB)however, the kingdom has turned around and become my brother’s, (AC)for it was his from the Lord. 16 So now I am making one request of you; do not [m]refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.” 17 Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king—for he will not [n]refuse you—that he may give me (AD)Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.” 18 And Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak to the king for you.”

Adonijah Executed

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king stood to meet her, bowed to her, and sat on his throne; then he (AE)had a throne set up for the king’s mother, and (AF)she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; (AG)do not [o]refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not [p]refuse you.” 21 So she said, “(AH)Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.” 22 But King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? (AI)Request for him the kingdom as well—(AJ)since he is my older brother—for him, for (AK)Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me and more so, if Adonijah has (AL)not spoken this word against his own [q]life! 24 Now then, as the Lord lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and (AM)has made me a house just as He [r]promised, Adonijah certainly shall be put to death today!” 25 Then King Solomon (AN)sent the order by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he [s]struck him so that he died.

26 Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, “(AO)Go to Anathoth to your own field, (AP)for you [t]deserve to die; but I will not put you to death at this [u]time, because (AQ)you carried the ark of the Lord [v]God before my father David, and because (AR)you were afflicted in everything with which my father was afflicted.” 27 So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, to fulfill (AS)the word of the Lord, which He had spoken regarding the house of Eli in Shiloh.

Joab Executed

28 Now the news came to Joab (AT)because Joab had followed Adonijah, (AU)though he had not followed Absalom. So Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and (AV)took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And it was reported to King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord, and [w]was beside the altar. Then Solomon (AW)sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “(AX)Go, [x]execute him.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “This is what the king has said: ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, for I will die here.” So Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “This is what Joab spoke, and so he answered me.” 31 And the king said to him, “(AY)Do just as he has spoken, and [y]execute him and bury him, (AZ)so that you may remove from me and from my father’s house the blood which Joab shed without [z]justification. 32 (BA)The Lord will return his blood on his own head, (BB)because he [aa]struck two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know about it: (BC)Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and (BD)Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 (BE)So their blood shall return on the head of Joab and on the head of his [ab]descendants forever; but for David and his [ac]descendants, and his house and his throne, may there be peace from the Lord forever.” 34 Then (BF)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and [ad]struck him and put him to death, and he was buried at his own house (BG)in the wilderness. 35 And (BH)the king appointed Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and the king appointed (BI)Zadok the priest (BJ)in place of Abiathar.

Shimei Executed

36 Now the king sent men and summoned (BK)Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not leave there for any other place. 37 For on the day you leave and (BL)cross the [ae]brook Kidron, you will know for certain that you will assuredly die; (BM)your blood will be [af]on your own head.” 38 Shimei then said to the king, “The word is good. Just as my lord the king has spoken, so your servant shall do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.

39 But it came about at the end of three years, that two of Shimei’s servants ran away (BN)to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And others told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your servants are in Gath.” 40 Then Shimei got up and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to search for his servants. And Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned. 42 So the king sent men and summoned Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you depart and go anywhere, you shall assuredly die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord, and the command which I [ag]imposed on you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “(BO)You yourself know all the evil that [ah]you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore (BP)the Lord will return your evil on your own head. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and (BQ)the throne of David will be established before the Lord forever.” 46 (BR)So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and [ai]struck him so that he died.

(BS)And the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 2:1 Lit days
  2. 1 Kings 2:2 Lit become a man
  3. 1 Kings 2:3 Or carefully perform
  4. 1 Kings 2:4 Lit word
  5. 1 Kings 2:4 Or faithfulness
  6. 1 Kings 2:4 Lit there shall not be cut off to you a man from upon
  7. 1 Kings 2:5 Lit brought blood...on peace
  8. 1 Kings 2:6 I.e., the netherworld
  9. 1 Kings 2:7 Lit so they came near to me
  10. 1 Kings 2:9 I.e., the netherworld
  11. 1 Kings 2:10 I.e., died
  12. 1 Kings 2:15 Lit set their faces toward me
  13. 1 Kings 2:16 Lit turn away my face
  14. 1 Kings 2:17 Lit turn away your face
  15. 1 Kings 2:20 Lit turn away my face
  16. 1 Kings 2:20 Lit turn away your face
  17. 1 Kings 2:23 Lit soul
  18. 1 Kings 2:24 Lit spoke
  19. 1 Kings 2:25 Lit attacked
  20. 1 Kings 2:26 Lit are a man of death
  21. 1 Kings 2:26 Lit day
  22. 1 Kings 2:26 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  23. 1 Kings 2:29 Lit behold, beside
  24. 1 Kings 2:29 Lit attack
  25. 1 Kings 2:31 Lit attack
  26. 1 Kings 2:31 Or cause
  27. 1 Kings 2:32 Lit attacked
  28. 1 Kings 2:33 Lit seed
  29. 1 Kings 2:33 Lit seed
  30. 1 Kings 2:34 Lit attacked
  31. 1 Kings 2:37 Or wadi
  32. 1 Kings 2:37 I.e., your own responsibility
  33. 1 Kings 2:43 Lit commanded
  34. 1 Kings 2:44 Lit your heart acknowledges
  35. 1 Kings 2:46 Lit attacked

Cross references

  1. 1 Kings 2:1 : Gen 47:29; Deut 31:14
  2. 1 Kings 2:2 : Josh 23:14
  3. 1 Kings 2:2 : Deut 31:7, 23; Josh 1:6, 7
  4. 1 Kings 2:3 : Deut 17:18-20
  5. 1 Kings 2:3 : 1 Chr 22:12, 13
  6. 1 Kings 2:4 : 2 Sam 7:25
  7. 1 Kings 2:4 : Ps 132:12
  8. 1 Kings 2:4 : 2 Kin 20:3
  9. 1 Kings 2:4 : 2 Sam 7:12, 13; 1 Kin 8:25; 9:5
  10. 1 Kings 2:5 : 2 Sam 2:13, 18
  11. 1 Kings 2:5 : 2 Sam 3:27; 1 Kin 2:32
  12. 1 Kings 2:5 : 2 Sam 20:10
  13. 1 Kings 2:6 : 1 Kin 2:9
  14. 1 Kings 2:7 : 2 Sam 19:31-38
  15. 1 Kings 2:7 : 2 Sam 9:7, 10
  16. 1 Kings 2:7 : 2 Sam 17:27-29
  17. 1 Kings 2:8 : 2 Sam 16:5-8
  18. 1 Kings 2:8 : 2 Sam 19:18-23
  19. 1 Kings 2:9 : 1 Kin 2:6
  20. 1 Kings 2:10 : Acts 2:29; 13:36
  21. 1 Kings 2:10 : 2 Sam 5:7; 1 Kin 3:1
  22. 1 Kings 2:11 : 2 Sam 5:4, 5; 1 Chr 3:4; 29:26, 27
  23. 1 Kings 2:11 : 2 Sam 5:5
  24. 1 Kings 2:12 : 1 Chr 29:23; 2 Chr 1:1
  25. 1 Kings 2:13 : 1 Sam 16:4
  26. 1 Kings 2:15 : 2 Sam 3:3, 4; 1 Kin 2:22
  27. 1 Kings 2:15 : 1 Kin 1:5-25
  28. 1 Kings 2:15 : 1 Kin 1:38-50
  29. 1 Kings 2:15 : 1 Chr 22:9, 10; 28:5-7
  30. 1 Kings 2:17 : 1 Kin 1:3, 4
  31. 1 Kings 2:19 : 1 Kin 15:13
  32. 1 Kings 2:19 : Ps 45:9
  33. 1 Kings 2:20 : 1 Kin 2:16
  34. 1 Kings 2:21 : 1 Kin 1:3, 4
  35. 1 Kings 2:22 : 2 Sam 12:8
  36. 1 Kings 2:22 : 1 Kin 1:6; 2:15; 1 Chr 3:2, 5
  37. 1 Kings 2:22 : 1 Kin 1:7
  38. 1 Kings 2:23 : Ruth 1:17
  39. 1 Kings 2:24 : 2 Sam 7:11, 13; 1 Chr 22:10
  40. 1 Kings 2:25 : 2 Sam 8:18
  41. 1 Kings 2:26 : Josh 21:18; Jer 1:1
  42. 1 Kings 2:26 : 1 Sam 26:16
  43. 1 Kings 2:26 : 1 Sam 23:6; 2 Sam 15:24-29
  44. 1 Kings 2:26 : 1 Sam 22:20-23; 23:8, 9
  45. 1 Kings 2:27 : 1 Sam 2:27-36
  46. 1 Kings 2:28 : 1 Kin 1:7
  47. 1 Kings 2:28 : 2 Sam 17:25; 18:2
  48. 1 Kings 2:28 : 1 Kin 1:50
  49. 1 Kings 2:29 : 1 Kin 2:25
  50. 1 Kings 2:29 : Ex 21:14
  51. 1 Kings 2:31 : Ex 21:14
  52. 1 Kings 2:31 : Num 35:33; Deut 19:13; 21:8, 9
  53. 1 Kings 2:32 : Gen 9:6; Judg 9:24, 57; Ps 7:16
  54. 1 Kings 2:32 : 2 Chr 21:13, 14
  55. 1 Kings 2:32 : 2 Sam 3:27
  56. 1 Kings 2:32 : 2 Sam 20:9, 10
  57. 1 Kings 2:33 : 2 Sam 3:29
  58. 1 Kings 2:34 : 1 Kin 2:25
  59. 1 Kings 2:34 : Josh 15:61; Matt 3:1
  60. 1 Kings 2:35 : 1 Kin 4:4
  61. 1 Kings 2:35 : 1 Chr 6:53; 24:3; 29:22
  62. 1 Kings 2:35 : 1 Kin 2:27
  63. 1 Kings 2:36 : 2 Sam 16:5; 1 Kin 2:8
  64. 1 Kings 2:37 : 2 Sam 15:23; 2 Kin 23:6; John 18:1
  65. 1 Kings 2:37 : Josh 2:19; 2 Sam 1:16; Ezek 18:13
  66. 1 Kings 2:39 : 1 Sam 27:2
  67. 1 Kings 2:44 : 2 Sam 16:5-13
  68. 1 Kings 2:44 : 1 Sam 25:39; 2 Kin 11:1, 12-16; Ps 7:16
  69. 1 Kings 2:45 : 2 Sam 7:13; Prov 25:5
  70. 1 Kings 2:46 : 1 Kin 2:25, 34
  71. 1 Kings 2:46 : 1 Kin 2:12; 2 Chr 1:1

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1 Kings 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 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 ...
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1 Kings 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 Forsooth the days of David nighed, that he should die; and he commanded to Solomon, his son, and said, 2 Lo! I enter into the way of all (the) earth; be thou strengthened (take thou courage), and be thou a strong man. 3 And keep thou the keepings and the behests of thy Lord God, that thou go in hi...
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1 Kings 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 3 and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ...
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1 Kings 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

2 David was close to dying, so he gave direction to his son, Solomon. King David: 2 I am about to go the way all earthly things go. Be strong; demonstrate your maturity. 3 Honor the laws of the Eternal your God, and live by His truth. Be faithful to His laws, commands, judgments, and precepts—the o...
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1 Kings 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David’s Last Instructions2 Now when the time of David drew near to die, he charged his son Solomon, saying: 2 “I—I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong[a] and be a man. 3 Keep the charge of Adonai your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and...
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1 Kings 2 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David’s Instruction to Solomon2 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ...
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1 Kings 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David’s Instruction to Solomon2 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ...
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1 Kings 2 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

David’s Instruction to Solomon2 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying: 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances...
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1 Kings 2 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David’s Instruction to Solomon2 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying: 2 ‘I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances...
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1 Kings 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David’s Instruction to Solomon2 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying:(A)2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous,(B)3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinanc...
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1 Kings 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David’s Final Instructions to Solomon2 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: 2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, c...
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1 Kings 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

David’s Last Words to Solomon2 When David’s time to die was near, he told his son Solomon, 2 “I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong. Show yourself to be a man. 3 Do what the Lord your God tells you. Walk in His ways. Keep all His Laws and His Word, by what is written in the Law of Mose...
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1 Kings 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Instructions to Solomon2 Now (A)the days of David drew near that he should die, and he [a]charged Solomon his son, saying: 2 (B)“I go the way of all the earth; (C)be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His st...
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1 Kings 2 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David’s charge to Solomon2 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 ‘I am about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said. ‘So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands...
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1 Kings 2 - New International Version (NIV)

David’s Charge to Solomon(A)2 When the time drew near for David to die,(B) he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,”(C) he said. “So be strong,(D) act like a man, 3 and observe(E) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decree...
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1 Kings 2 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Gives Orders to Solomon2 The time came near for David to die. So he gave orders to his son Solomon. 2 He said, “I’m about to die, just as everyone else on earth does. So be strong. Show how brave you are. 3 Do everything the Lord your God requires. Live the way he wants you to. Obey his order...
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1 Kings 2 - New English Translation (NET)

David’s Final Words to Solomon2 When David was close to death,[a] he told[b] Solomon his son: 2 “I am about to die.[c] Be strong and become a man! 3 Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you[d] by following his instructions[e] and obeying[f] his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as wr...
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