(KJV) 1 Kings 21

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⥃David Instructs Solomon [ Psalms 37:1–40 ]

[1] Now the days2 of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged3 Solomon his son, saying, [2] I go4 the way of all the earth: be thou5 strong therefore, and shew6 thyself a man; [3] And keep7 the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes8, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies9, as it is written10 in the law of Moses, that thou11 mayest prosper12 in all that thou doest, and whithersoever13 thou turnest thyself: [4] That the Lord14 may continue his word15 which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk16 before me in truth with all their heart17 and with all their soul, there shall not fail18 thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. [5] Moreover thou knowest also what Joab19 the son of Zeruiah did to me, [and] what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner20 the son of Ner, and unto Amasa21 the son of Jether22, whom he slew, and shed23 the blood of war in peace, and put24 the blood of war upon his girdle that [was] about his loins, and in his shoes that [were] on his feet. [6] Do therefore according25 to thy wisdom, and let26 not his hoar head go down to the grave in27 peace. [7] But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai28 the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat29 at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled30 because of Absalom thy brother. [8] And, behold, [thou hast] with thee Shimei31 the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous32 curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came33 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 him34 not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise35 man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his36 hoar head bring thou down to the grave with37 blood.

⥃David’s Reign and Death [ 1 Chronicles 29:26–30 ]

[10] So David38 slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city39 of David. [11] And the days that David reigned over40 Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

[12] Then sat Solomon41 upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom42 was established greatly.43

⥃The Execution of Adonijah

[13] [¶]And Adonijah44 the son of Haggith came to Bath–sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest45 thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. [14] He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.46 [15] And he said, Thou knowest47 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 was48 his from the Lord. [16] And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not49. 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 Abishag50 the Shunammite to wife. [18] And Bath–sheba said, Well51; 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 up52 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 sat53 on his right hand. [20] Then she said, I desire54 one small petition of thee; [I pray thee], say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on55, my mother: for I will not say thee nay. [21] And she said, Let Abishag56 the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife. [22] And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost57 thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom58 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, God59 do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah60 have not spoken61 this word against his own life. [24] Now therefore, [as] the Lord62 liveth, which hath established me, and set me63 on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me64 an house, as he promised65, Adonijah shall be put66 to death this day. [25] And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell67 upon him that he died.

[26] And unto Abiathar68 the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth69, unto thine own fields; for thou [art] worthy of death70: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest71 the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and because thou hast been72 afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. [27] So Solomon73 thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord; that he74 might fulfil the word of the Lord, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh75.

⥃The Execution of Joab

[28] [¶]Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had76 turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught77 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] by78 the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go79, 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, Do80 as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou81 mayest take away the innocent blood, which82 Joab shed, from me, and from83 the house of my father. [32] And the Lord shall return84 his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men85 more righteous86 and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father87 David not knowing [thereof], [to wit], Abner88 the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa89 the son of Jether90, captain of the host of Judah. [33] Their blood shall therefore return upon91 the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David92, and upon his seed, and upon his house93, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the Lord. [34] So Benaiah94 the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell95 upon him, and slew him: and he was buried96 in his own house in the97 wilderness.

[35] And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room98 over the host: and Zadok99 the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

⥃The Execution of Shimei

[36] [¶]And the king sent and called for Shimei100, and said unto him, Build101 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 the102 brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood103 shall be upon thine own head. [38] And Shimei said unto the king, The saying104 [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 Achish105 son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.106 [40] And Shimei arose107, 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 not108 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 saidst109 unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good. [43] Why110 then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment111 that I have charged thee with? [44] The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest112 all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return113 thy wickedness upon thine own head; [45] And king Solomon [shall be] blessed114, and the throne115 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 kingdom116 was established in the hand of Solomon.

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  1. 1Kgs 2:1, David, having given a charge to Solomon, 1Kgs 2:3, of religiousness; 1Kgs 2:5, of Joab; 1Kgs 2:7, of Barzillai; 1Kgs 2:8, of Shimei; 1Kgs 2:10, dies; 1Kgs 2:12, Solomon succeeds; 1Kgs 2:13, Adonijah, moving Bath–sheba to sue unto Solomon for Abishag, is put to death; 1Kgs 2:26, Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood; 1Kgs 2:28, Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain; 1Kgs 2:35, Benaiah is put in Joab’s room, and Zadok in Abiathar’s; 1Kgs 2:36, Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going thence to Gath, is put to death. ↩

  2. Gen 47:29; Deut 31:14, Deut 33:1; 2Tim 4:6; 2Pet 1:13-15 ↩

  3. Num 27:19; Deut 3:28, Deut 31:23; Acts 20:28-31; 1Tim 1:18, 1Tim 6:13; 2Tim 4:1 ↩

  4. Josh 23:14; Job 16:22, Job 30:23; Ps 89:48; Heb 9:27 ↩

  5. Deut 17:19-20, Deut 31:6; Josh 1:6-7; 1Chr 28:20; Eph 6:10; 2Tim 2:1 ↩

  6. 1Kgs 3:7; 2Sam 10:12; Eccl 12:13; 1Cor 16:13; 1Tim 4:12 ↩

  7. Deut 29:9; Josh 1:7, Josh 22:5; 1Chr 22:12-13, 1Chr 28:8-9, 1Chr 29:19 ↩

  8. Deut 4:1, Deut 4:5, Deut 4:8, Deut 5:1, Deut 6:1-2 ↩

  9. Deut 4:45; Ps 19:7, Ps 119:2, Ps 119:111, Ps 119:138 ↩

  10. Deut 17:18-20; Mal 4:4 ↩

  11. Deut 29:9 ↩

  12. or, do wisely, Josh 1:7-8 *marg. 1Sam 18:5, 1Sam 18:14, 1Sam 18:30; 2Chr 31:20-21; Ps 1:2-3, Ps 119:98-100; Prov 3:1-4 ↩

  13. 2Sam 8:6, 2Sam 8:14; 2Kgs 18:7 ↩

  14. Gen 18:19; Deut 7:12; 1Chr 28:9; John 15:9-10; Jude 1:20-21, Jude 1:24 ↩

  15. 2Sam 7:11-16, 2Sam 7:25; 1Chr 17:11-15, 1Chr 22:9-11, 1Chr 28:5-7; Ps 89:29-37; Ps 132:11-12 ↩

  16. 1Kgs 3:3, 1Kgs 3:14, 1Kgs 8:23; Gen 17:1; Lev 26:3; 2Kgs 20:3, 2Kgs 23:3, 2Kgs 23:25; 2Chr 17:3; Luke 1:6 ↩

  17. Deut 6:5, Deut 10:12, Deut 11:13; Matt 22:37 ↩

  18. etc. Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne, 1Kgs 8:25; 2Sam 7:12-13, 2Sam 7:16; Ps 37:9, Ps 37:22; Zech 14:2 ↩

  19. 1Kgs 1:7, 1Kgs 1:18-19; 2Sam 3:39, 2Sam 18:5, 2Sam 18:12, 2Sam 18:14, 2Sam 19:5-7 ↩

  20. 2Sam 3:27 ↩

  21. 2Sam 20:10 ↩

  22. 2Sam 17:25, Ithra ↩

  23. Heb. put ↩

  24. Jer 2:34, Jer 6:15; Ezek 24:7-8 ↩

  25. 1Kgs 2:9; Prov 20:26 ↩

  26. 1Kgs 2:28-34; Gen 9:6; Num 35:33; Prov 28:17; Eccl 8:11; Isa 65:20 ↩

  27. Gen 42:38; 2Kgs 22:20; Ps 37:37; Isa 48:22, Isa 57:2, Isa 57:21 ↩

  28. 2Sam 17:27-29, 2Sam 19:31-40; Prov 27:10 ↩

  29. 2Sam 9:7, 2Sam 9:10, 2Sam 19:28; Luke 12:37, Luke 22:28-30; Rev 3:20-21 ↩

  30. 2Sam 15:13-15 ↩

  31. 1Kgs 2:36-46; 2Sam 16:5-8 ↩

  32. Heb. strong ↩

  33. 2Sam 19:16-23; Jer 4:2 ↩

  34. Do not consider him as an innocent man; for, as thou art a wise man, and knowest how to treat such persons, treat him as he deserves; only, as I have sworn to him that I would not put him to death, "bring not his hoar head down to the grave with blood." So Solomon understood David; for, after he had commanded Joab to be slain, in obedience to his father, he sent for Shimei, and knowing he ought to be well watched, he confined him to Jerusalem for the rest of his life, and so it appears David should be understood; for the negative particle lo, in the former clause, "hold him not guiltless," should be repeated in the latter clause, though not expressed; instances of which frequently occur in the Hebrew Scriptures. (See note on Judg 5:30. 1Sam 2:3. Ps 1:5; Ps 9:18; Ps 38:1; Ps 75:5. Prov 5:16; Prov 24:12, etc). This is the view taken of the subject by Dr. Kennicott, and it seems the best and most correct mode of interpreting the text. Exod 20:7, Exod 22:28; Job 9:28 ↩

  35. 1Kgs 3:12, 1Kgs 3:28 ↩

  36. 1Kgs 2:6; Gen 42:38, Gen 44:31 ↩

  37. Num 32:23 ↩

  38. 1Kgs 1:21; 1Chr 29:28; Acts 2:29, Acts 13:36 ↩

  39. 1Kgs 3:1, 1Kgs 11:43; 2Sam 5:7; 1Chr 11:7 ↩

  40. 2Sam 5:4; 1Chr 29:26-27 ↩

  41. 1Kgs 1:46; 1Chr 29:23-25; 2Chr 1:1; Ps 132:12 ↩

  42. 2Sam 7:12-13, 2Sam 7:29; Ps 72:8-20, Ps 89:36-37 ↩

  43. am 2990, bc 1014, An, Ex, Is, 477 ↩

  44. 1Kgs 1:5-10, 1Kgs 1:50-53 ↩

  45. 1Sam 16:4-5; 2Kgs 9:18-22; 1Chr 12:17-18; Luke 10:5-6 ↩

  46. 2Sam 14:12; Luke 7:40 ↩

  47. 1Kgs 1:5, 1Kgs 1:25; 2Sam 15:6, 2Sam 15:13, 2Sam 16:18 ↩

  48. 2Sam 7:12, 2Sam 12:24; 1Chr 22:9-10, 1Chr 28:5-7; Prov 21:30; Jer 27:5-8; Dan 2:22 ↩

  49. Heb. turn not away my face, Ps 132:10; Prov 30:7 ↩

  50. 1Kgs 1:2-4; 2Sam 3:7, 2Sam 12:8 ↩

  51. Prov 14:15 ↩

  52. Exod 20:12; Lev 19:3, Lev 19:32 ↩

  53. Ps 45:9, Ps 110:1; Matt 25:33 ↩

  54. Matt 20:20-21; John 2:3-4 ↩

  55. Matt 7:7-11, Matt 18:19, Matt 10:35-36, Matt 11:24; Luke 11:9-10; John 14:13-14, John 15:16 ↩

  56. 2Sam 16:21-22 ↩

  57. Matt 20:22; Mark 10:38; Jas 4:3 ↩

  58. 1Kgs 1:5-7, 1Kgs 1:11, 1Kgs 1:24-25 ↩

  59. 1Kgs 20:10; Ruth 1:17; 1Sam 14:44; 2Sam 3:9, 2Sam 3:35, 2Sam 19:13; 2Kgs 6:31 ↩

  60. We have already seen, that the whole harem of an eastern monarch was a part of the regal succession (see note on 2Sam 16:23); and it was treason for a subject to claim any wife or virgin who had once formed a part of it. Solomon evidently considered the request of Adonijah in this light; and was convinced that he was still aiming to seize the crown, to which he considered this as one step. But it is very doubtful, how far the plea either of policy or state necessity can justify Solomon in thus embruing his hands in his brother's blood, whatever might have been his treasonable intentions or conduct. ↩

  61. Ps 64:8, Ps 140:9; Prov 18:6-7; Eccl 10:12; Luke 19:22 ↩

  62. 1Kgs 1:29 ↩

  63. 1Kgs 3:6-7, 1Kgs 10:9; 1Chr 29:23; 2Chr 1:8-9 ↩

  64. Exod 1:21; 1Sam 25:28; 2Sam 7:11-13, 2Sam 7:27; 1Chr 17:10, 1Chr 17:17, 1Chr 17:23; Ps 127:1 ↩

  65. 1Chr 22:10 ↩

  66. 1Kgs 1:52; Eccl 8:11-13 ↩

  67. 1Kgs 2:31, 1Kgs 2:34, 1Kgs 2:46; Judg 8:20-21; 1Sam 15:33; 2Sam 1:15, 2Sam 4:12 ↩

  68. 1Kgs 2:35, 1Kgs 1:7, 1Kgs 1:25 ↩

  69. Josh 21:18; Isa 10:30; Jer 1:1 ↩

  70. Heb. a man of death, 1Sam 26:16; 2Sam 12:5 *marg. ↩

  71. 1Sam 22:20-23, 1Sam 23:6-9; 2Sam 15:24, 2Sam 15:29; 1Chr 15:11-12 ↩

  72. 2Sam 15:24-29; Matt 10:42; Luke 22:28; Gal 3:4 ↩

  73. This was for having taken part with Adonijah; but by it a remarkable prophecy was fulfilled. God had told Eli (1Sam 2:30-36) that the priesthood should depart from his house; Abiathar was the last of the priests of Ithamar, of which family was Eli the high priest. Zadok, who succeeded, was of the family of Eleazar; and by this change the priesthood reverted to its ancient channel. ↩

  74. 1Sam 2:30-36, 1Sam 3:12-14; Matt 26:56; John 12:38, John 19:24, John 19:28, John 19:36-37 ↩

  75. Josh 18:1; Ps 78:60; Jer 7:12-14 ↩

  76. 1Kgs 1:7; Deut 32:35; 2Sam 18:2, 2Sam 18:14-15 ↩

  77. 1Kgs 1:50; Exod 27:2 ↩

  78. Exod 21:14; Ezek 9:6; 1Pet 4:17 ↩

  79. 1Kgs 2:25, 1Kgs 2:31, 1Kgs 2:46 ↩

  80. Exod 21:14 ↩

  81. Gen 9:5-6; Num 35:33; Deut 19:12-13, Deut 21:8-9; 2Kgs 9:26; Prov 28:17; Acts 28:4 ↩

  82. 1Kgs 2:5 ↩

  83. 2Sam 3:28 ↩

  84. 1Kgs 2:44; Gen 4:11; Judg 9:24, Judg 9:57; Ps 7:16 ↩

  85. 2Sam 3:27, 2Sam 20:10 ↩

  86. 1Sam 15:28; 2Sam 4:11; 2Chr 21:13; Esth 1:19 ↩

  87. 2Sam 3:26, 2Sam 3:37 ↩

  88. 2Sam 3:27 ↩

  89. 2Sam 20:10 ↩

  90. 1Kgs 2:5; 2Sam 17:25, Ithra ↩

  91. 1Kgs 2:32; 2Sam 3:29; 2Kgs 5:27; Ps 101:8, Ps 109:6-15; Matt 27:25 ↩

  92. 2Sam 3:28; Prov 25:5 ↩

  93. Ps 89:29, Ps 89:36-37, Ps 132:12; Isa 9:6-7, Isa 11:1-9; Luke 1:31-33, Luke 2:14 ↩

  94. 1Kgs 2:25, 1Kgs 2:31, 1Kgs 2:46 ↩

  95. It appears that he slew him at the very altar. The altar was so sacred among all the people, that, in general, even the vilest wretch found safety, if he once reached it. This led to many abuses, and the perversion of public justice; and God decreed (Exod 24:14) that the presumptuous murderer, who had taken refuge at his altar, should be dragged thence and put to death. ↩

  96. 2Kgs 21:18; 2Chr 33:20 ↩

  97. Josh 15:61; Matt 3:1 ↩

  98. Job 34:24 ↩

  99. 1Kgs 2:27; Num 25:11-13; 1Sam 2:35; 1Chr 6:4-15, 1Chr 6:50-53, 1Chr 24:3; Ps 109:8; Acts 1:20 ↩

  100. 1Kgs 2:8-9; 2Sam 16:5-9; Prov 20:8, Prov 20:26 ↩

  101. No doubt Solomon suspected that Shimei's influence would be dangerous upon his own estate and among his numerous dependents in different parts of the land; and therefore he proposed to him, as the condition of his indemnity for former crimes, that he should live in Jerusalem under his eye, and by no means remove thence. These terms Shimei readily agreed to, and solemnly swore to observe them; and for three years he lived unmolested and in affluence. But growing secure, in contempt of Solomon's authority and of the oath of God, upon an unnecessary business he took a journey, which according to his own engagement forfeited his life. Thus the Lord left him to be infatuated, that due punishment might be inflicted upon him; in order that every ringleader of opposition to Solomon's kingdom might be crushed, and others be intimidated by their examples. Solomon's throne by the death of this man was established in peace, and became a type of the Redeemer's kingdom of peace and righteousness. - Scott. 1Kgs 1:53; 2Sam 14:24, 2Sam 14:28 ↩

  102. 1Kgs 15:13; 2Sam 15:23; 2Kgs 23:6; 2Chr 29:16; Jer 31:40; John 18:1, Cedron ↩

  103. 1Kgs 2:31, 1Kgs 2:33; Lev 20:9; Josh 2:19; 2Sam 1:16; Ezek 18:13 ↩

  104. 1Kgs 20:4; 2Kgs 20:19 ↩

  105. 1Sam 21:10, 1Sam 27:2-3 ↩

  106. am 2993, bc 1011, An, Ex, Is, 480 ↩

  107. Prov 15:27; Luke 12:15; 1Tim 6:10 ↩

  108. 1Kgs 2:36-38; Ps 15:4; Luke 19:22 ↩

  109. Luke 15:22 ↩

  110. 2Sam 21:2; Ezek 17:18-19 ↩

  111. 2Chr 30:12; Eccl 8:2; Rom 13:5 ↩

  112. 2Sam 16:5-13; John 8:9; Rom 2:15; 1John 3:20 ↩

  113. 1Kgs 2:32-33; Ps 7:16; Prov 5:22; Ezek 17:19; Hos 4:9 *marg. ↩

  114. Ps 21:6, Ps 72:17 ↩

  115. 1Kgs 2:24, 1Kgs 2:33-34; Prov 25:5; Isa 9:6-7 ↩

  116. 1Kgs 2:12, 1Kgs 2:45; 2Chr 1:1; Prov 29:4 ↩