1 Now the days{H3117} of David{H1732} drew nigh{H7126}{(H8799)} that he should die{H4191}{(H8800)}; and he charged{H6680}{(H8762)} Solomon{H8010} his son{H1121}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

2 I go{H1980}{(H8802)} the way{H1870} of all the earth{H776}: be thou strong{H2388}{(H8804)} therefore, and shew thyself a man{H376};

3 And keep{H8104}{(H8804)} the charge{H4931} of the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}, to walk{H3212}{(H8800)} in his ways{H1870}, to keep{H8104}{(H8800)} his statutes{H2708}, and his commandments{H4687}, and his judgments{H4941}, and his testimonies{H5715}, as it is written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the law{H8451} of Moses{H4872}, that thou mayest prosper{H7919}{(H8686)} in all that thou doest{H6213}{(H8799)}, and whithersoever thou turnest{H6437}{(H8799)} thyself:

4 That the LORD{H3068} may continue{H6965}{(H8686)} his word{H1697} which he spake{H1696}{(H8765)} concerning me, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, If thy children{H1121} take heed{H8104}{(H8799)} to their way{H1870}, to walk{H3212}{(H8800)} before{H6440} me in truth{H571} with all their heart{H3824} and with all their soul{H5315}, there shall not fail{H3772}{(H8735)} thee(said{H559}{(H8800)} he) a man{H376} on the throne{H3678} of Israel{H3478}.

5 Moreover thou knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} also what Joab{H3097} the son{H1121} of Zeruiah{H6870} did{H6213}{(H8804)} to me, and what he did{H6213}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8799)}, and shed{H7760}{(H8799)} the blood{H1818} of war{H4421} in peace{H7965}, and put{H5414}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8804)} therefore according to thy wisdom{H2451}, and let not his hoar head{H7872} go down{H3381}{(H8686)} to the grave{H7585} in peace{H7965}.

7 But shew{H6213}{(H8799)} kindness{H2617} unto the sons{H1121} of Barzillai{H1271} the Gileadite{H1569}, and let them be of those that eat{H398}{(H8802)} at thy table{H7979}: for so they came{H7126}{(H8804)} to me when I fled{H1272}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8765)} me with a grievous{H4834}{(H8737)} curse{H7045} in the day{H3117} when I went{H3212}{(H8800)} to Mahanaim{H4266}: but he came down{H3381}{(H8804)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} me at Jordan{H3383}, and I sware{H7650}{(H8735)} to him by the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, I will not put thee to death{H4191}{(H8686)} with the sword{H2719}.

9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless{H5352}{(H8762)}: for thou art a wise{H2450} man{H376}, and knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} what thou oughtest to do{H6213}{(H8799)} unto him; but his hoar head{H7872} bring thou down{H3381}{(H8689)} to the grave{H7585} with blood{H1818}.

10 So David{H1732} slept{H7901}{(H8799)} with his fathers{H1}, and was buried{H6912}{(H8735)} in the city{H5892} of David{H1732}.

11 And the days{H3117} that David{H1732} reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} over Israel{H3478} were forty{H705} years{H8141}: seven{H7651} years{H8141} reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} he in Hebron{H2275}, and thirty{H7970} and three{H7969} years{H8141} reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} he in Jerusalem{H3389}.

12 Then sat{H3427}{(H8804)} Solomon{H8010} upon the throne{H3678} of David{H1732} his father{H1}; and his kingdom{H4438} was established{H3559}{(H8735)} greatly{H3966}.

13 And Adonijah{H138} the son{H1121} of Haggith{H2294} came{H935}{(H8799)} to Bathsheba{H1339} the mother{H517} of Solomon{H8010}. And she said{H559}{(H8799)}, Comest{H935}{(H8800)} thou peaceably{H7965}? And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Peaceably{H7965}.

14 He said{H559}{(H8799)} moreover, I have somewhat to say{H1697} unto thee. And she said{H559}{(H8799)}, Say on{H1696}{(H8761)}.

15 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thou knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} that the kingdom{H4410} was mine, and that all Israel{H3478} set{H7760}{(H8804)} their faces{H6440} on me, that I should reign{H4427}{(H8800)}: howbeit the kingdom{H4410} is turned about{H5437}{(H8735)}, and is become my brother's{H251}: for it was his from the LORD{H3068}.

16 And now I ask{H7592}{(H8802)} one{H259} petition{H7596} of thee, deny{H7725}{(H8686)} me{H6440} not. And she said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Say on{H1696}{(H8761)}.

17 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Speak{H559}{(H8798)}, I pray thee, unto Solomon{H8010} the king{H4428},(for he will not say{H7725} thee{H6440} nay{H7725}{(H8686)},) that he give{H5414}{(H8799)} me Abishag{H49} the Shunammite{H7767} to wife{H802}.

18 And Bathsheba{H1339} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Well{H2896}; I will speak{H1696}{(H8762)} for thee unto the king{H4428}.

19 Bathsheba{H1339} therefore went{H935}{(H8799)} unto king{H4428} Solomon{H8010}, to speak{H1696}{(H8763)} unto him for Adonijah{H138}. And the king{H4428} rose up{H6965}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} her, and bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} himself unto her, and sat down{H3427}{(H8799)} on his throne{H3678}, and caused a seat{H3678} to be set{H7760}{(H8799)} for the king's{H4428} mother{H517}; and she sat{H3427}{(H8799)} on his right hand{H3225}.

20 Then she said{H559}{(H8799)}, I desire{H7592}{(H8802)} one{H259} small{H6996} petition{H7596} of thee; I pray thee, say{H7725} me{H6440} not nay{H7725}{(H8686)}. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her, Ask on{H7592}{(H8798)}, my mother{H517}: for I will not say{H7725} thee{H6440} nay{H7725}{(H8686)}.

21 And she said{H559}{(H8799)}, Let Abishag{H49} the Shunammite{H7767} be given{H5414}{(H8714)} to Adonijah{H138} thy brother{H251} to wife{H802}.

22 And king{H4428} Solomon{H8010} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his mother{H517}, And why dost thou ask{H7592}{(H8802)} Abishag{H49} the Shunammite{H7767} for Adonijah{H138}? ask{H7592}{(H8798)} 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}{(H8735)} by the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, God{H430} do{H6213}{(H8799)} so to me, and more also{H3254}{(H8686)}, if Adonijah{H138} have not spoken{H1696}{(H8765)} this word{H1697} against his own life{H5315}.

24 Now therefore, as the LORD{H3068} liveth{H2416}, which hath established{H3559}{(H8689)} me, and set{H3427}{(H8686)} me on the throne{H3678} of David{H1732} my father{H1}, and who hath made{H6213}{(H8804)} me an house{H1004}, as he promised{H1696}{(H8765)}, Adonijah{H138} shall be put to death{H4191}{(H8714)} this day{H3117}.

25 And king{H4428} Solomon{H8010} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} by the hand{H3027} of Benaiah{H1141} the son{H1121} of Jehoiada{H3077}; and he fell{H6293}{(H8799)} upon him that he died{H4191}{(H8799)}.

26 And unto Abiathar{H54} the priest{H3548} said{H559}{(H8804)} the king{H4428}, Get{H3212}{(H8798)} 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}{(H8686)}, because thou barest{H5375}{(H8804)} the ark{H727} of the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069} before{H6440} David{H1732} my father{H1}, and because thou hast been afflicted{H6031}{(H8694)} in all wherein my father{H1} was afflicted{H6031}{(H8694)}.

27 So Solomon{H8010} thrust out{H1644}{(H8762)} Abiathar{H54} from being priest{H3548} unto the LORD{H3068}; that he might fulfil{H4390}{(H8763)} the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, which he spake{H1696}{(H8765)} concerning the house{H1004} of Eli{H5941} in Shiloh{H7887}.

28 Then tidings{H8052} came{H935}{(H8804)} to Joab{H3097}: for Joab{H3097} had turned{H5186}{(H8804)} after{H310} Adonijah{H138}, though he turned{H5186}{(H8804)} not after{H310} Absalom{H53}. And Joab{H3097} fled{H5127}{(H8799)} unto the tabernacle{H168} of the LORD{H3068}, and caught hold{H2388}{(H8686)} on the horns{H7161} of the altar{H4196}.

29 And it was told{H5046}{(H8714)} king{H4428} Solomon{H8010} that Joab{H3097} was fled{H5127}{(H8804)} unto the tabernacle{H168} of the LORD{H3068}; and, behold, he is by{H681} the altar{H4196}. Then Solomon{H8010} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} Benaiah{H1141} the son{H1121} of Jehoiada{H3077}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, fall{H6293}{(H8798)} upon him.

30 And Benaiah{H1141} came{H935}{(H8799)} to the tabernacle{H168} of the LORD{H3068}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the king{H4428}, Come forth{H3318}{(H8798)}. And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Nay; but I will die{H4191}{(H8799)} here. And Benaiah{H1141} brought{H7725} the king{H4428} word{H1697} again{H7725}{(H8686)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Thus said{H1696}{(H8765)} Joab{H3097}, and thus he answered{H6030}{(H8804)} me.

31 And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Do{H6213}{(H8798)} as he hath said{H1696}{(H8765)}, and fall{H6293}{(H8798)} upon him, and bury{H6912}{(H8804)} him; that thou mayest take away{H5493}{(H8689)} the innocent{H2600} blood{H1818}, which Joab{H3097} shed{H8210}{(H8804)}, from me, and from the house{H1004} of my father{H1}.

32 And the LORD{H3068} shall return{H7725}{(H8689)} his blood{H1818} upon his own head{H7218}, who fell{H6293}{(H8804)} upon two{H8147} men{H582} more righteous{H6662} and better{H2896} than he, and slew{H2026}{(H8799)} them with the sword{H2719}, my father{H1} David{H1732} not knowing{H3045}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8799)}, and fell{H6293}{(H8799)} upon him, and slew{H4191}{(H8686)} him: and he was buried{H6912}{(H8735)} in his own house{H1004} in the wilderness{H4057}.

35 And the king{H4428} put{H5414}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8804)} in the room of Abiathar{H54}.

36 And the king{H4428} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} and called{H7121}{(H8799)} for Shimei{H8096}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Build{H1129}{(H8798)} thee an house{H1004} in Jerusalem{H3389}, and dwell{H3427}{(H8804)} there, and go not forth{H3318}{(H8799)} thence any whither{H575}.

37 For it shall be, that on the day{H3117} thou goest out{H3318}{(H8800)}, and passest over{H5674}{(H8804)} the brook{H5158} Kidron{H6939}, thou shalt know{H3045}{(H8799)} for certain{H3045}{(H8800)} that thou shalt surely{H4191}{(H8800)} die{H4191}{(H8799)}: thy blood{H1818} shall be upon thine own head{H7218}.

38 And Shimei{H8096} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, The saying{H1697} is good{H2896}: as my lord{H113} the king{H4428} hath said{H1696}{(H8765)}, so will thy servant{H5650} do{H6213}{(H8799)}. And Shimei{H8096} dwelt{H3427}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8799)} unto Achish{H397} son{H1121} of Maachah{H4601} king{H4428} of Gath{H1661}. And they told{H5046}{(H8686)} Shimei{H8096}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold, thy servants{H5650} be in Gath{H1661}.

40 And Shimei{H8096} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and saddled{H2280}{(H8799)} his ass{H2543}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Gath{H1661} to Achish{H397} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} his servants{H5650}: and Shimei{H8096} went{H3212}{(H8799)}, and brought{H935}{(H8686)} his servants{H5650} from Gath{H1661}.

41 And it was told{H5046}{(H8714)} Solomon{H8010} that Shimei{H8096} had gone{H1980}{(H8804)} from Jerusalem{H3389} to Gath{H1661}, and was come again{H7725}{(H8799)}.

42 And the king{H4428} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} and called{H7121}{(H8799)} for Shimei{H8096}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Did I not make thee to swear{H7650}{(H8689)} by the LORD{H3068}, and protested{H5749}{(H8686)} unto thee, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Know{H3045}{(H8799)} for a certain{H3045}{(H8800)}, on the day{H3117} thou goest out{H3318}{(H8800)}, and walkest{H1980}{(H8804)} abroad any whither{H575}, that thou shalt surely{H4191}{(H8800)} die{H4191}{(H8799)}? and thou saidst{H559}{(H8799)} unto me, The word{H1697} that I have heard{H8085}{(H8804)} is good{H2896}.

43 Why then hast thou not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} the oath{H7621} of the LORD{H3068}, and the commandment{H4687} that I have charged{H6680}{(H8765)} thee with?

44 The king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} moreover to Shimei{H8096}, Thou knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} all the wickedness{H7451} which thine heart{H3824} is privy to{H3045}{(H8804)}, that thou didst{H6213}{(H8804)} to David{H1732} my father{H1}: therefore the LORD{H3068} shall return{H7725}{(H8689)} thy wickedness{H7451} upon thine own head{H7218};

45 And king{H4428} Solomon{H8010} shall be blessed{H1288}{(H8803)}, and the throne{H3678} of David{H1732} shall be established{H3559}{(H8737)} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068} for{H5704} ever{H5769}.

46 So the king{H4428} commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} Benaiah{H1141} the son{H1121} of Jehoiada{H3077}; which went out{H3318}{(H8799)}, and fell{H6293}{(H8799)} upon him, that he died{H4191}{(H8799)}. And the kingdom{H4467} was established{H3559}{(H8738)} in the hand{H3027} of Solomon{H8010}.