David's Last Instructions to Solomon
1 When David was about to die, he called his son Solomon and gave him his last instructions: 2 “My time to die has come. Be confident and determined, 3 and do what the Lord your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses, so that wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do. 4 If you obey him, the Lord will keep the promise he made when he told me that my descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul.
5 “There is something else. You remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace as revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men, and now I bear the responsibility for what he did, and I suffer the consequences. 6 You know what to do; you must not let him die a natural death.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead and take care of them, because they were kind to me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.
8 “There is also Shimei son of Gera, from the town of Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me bitterly the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he met me at the Jordan River, I gave him my solemn promise in the name of the Lord that I would not have him killed. 9 But you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do, and you must see to it that he is put to death.”
The Death of David
10 David died and was buried in David's City. 11 He had been king of Israel for forty years, ruling seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon succeeded his father David as king, and his royal power was firmly established.
The Death of Adonijah
13 Then Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, went to Bathsheba, who was Solomon's mother. “Is this a friendly visit?” she asked.
“It is,” he answered, 14 and then he added, “I have something to ask of you.”
“What is it?” she asked.
15 He answered, “You know that I should have become king and that everyone in Israel expected it. But it happened differently, and my brother became king because it was the Lord's will. 16 And now I have one request to make; please do not refuse me.”
“What is it?” Bathsheba asked.
17 He answered, “Please ask King Solomon—I know he won't refuse you—to let me have Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, as my wife.”
18 “Very well,” she answered. “I will speak to the king for you.”
19 So Bathsheba went to the king to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king stood up to greet his mother and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had another one brought in on which she sat at his right. 20 She said, “I have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me.”
“What is it, mother?” he asked. “I will not refuse you.”
21 She answered, “Let your brother Adonijah have Abishag as his wife.”
22 “Why do you ask me to give Abishag to him?” the king asked. “You might as well ask me to give him the throne too. After all, he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab are on his side!” 23 Then Solomon made a solemn promise in the Lord's name, “May God strike me dead if I don't make Adonijah pay with his life for asking this! 24 The Lord has firmly established me on the throne of my father David; he has kept his promise and given the kingdom to me and my descendants. I swear by the living Lord that Adonijah will die this very day!”
25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah, who went out and killed Adonijah.
Abiathar's Banishment and Joab's Death
26 Then King Solomon said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to your country home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not have you put to death now, for you were in charge of the Lord's Covenant Box while you were with my father David, and you shared in all his troubles.” 27 Then Solomon dismissed Abiathar from serving as a priest of the Lord, and so made come true what the Lord had said in Shiloh about the priest Eli and his descendants.
28 Joab heard what had happened. (He had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom.) So he fled to the Tent of the Lord's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar. 29 When the news reached King Solomon that Joab had fled to the Tent and was by the altar, Solomon sent a messenger to Joab to ask him why he had fled to the altar. Joab answered that he had fled to the Lord because he was afraid of Solomon. So King Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab. 30 He went to the Tent of the Lord's presence and said to Joab, “The king orders you to come out.”
“No,” Joab answered. “I will die here.”
Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.
31 “Do what Joab says,” Solomon answered. “Kill him and bury him. Then neither I nor any other of David's descendants will any longer be held responsible for what Joab did when he killed innocent men. 32 The Lord will punish Joab for those murders, which he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah. 33 The punishment for their murders will fall on Joab and on his descendants forever. But the Lord will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne.”
34 So Benaiah went to the Tent of the Lord's presence and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the open country. 35 The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.
The Death of Shimei
36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in it and don't leave the city. 37 If you ever leave and go beyond Kidron Brook, you will certainly die—and you yourself will be to blame.”
38 “Very well, Your Majesty,” Shimei answered. “I will do what you say.” So he lived in Jerusalem a long time.
39 Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath, 40 he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath, to find his slaves. He found them and brought them back home. 41 When Solomon heard what Shimei had done, 42 he sent for him and said, “I made you promise in the Lord's name not to leave Jerusalem. And I warned you that if you ever did, you would certainly die. Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me? 43 Why, then, have you broken your promise and disobeyed my command? 44 You know very well all the wrong that you did to my father David. The Lord will punish you for it. 45 But he will bless me, and he will make David's kingdom secure forever.”
46 Then the king gave orders to Benaiah, who went out and killed Shimei. Solomon was now in complete control.
Dāvida norādījumi Sālamanam
1 Kad tuvojās Dāvida nāves diena, viņš pavēlēja savam dēlam Sālamanam: 2 “Es aizeju pa ceļu, ko iet visa šī zeme, bet tu turies stiprs kā vīrs – 3 ievēro visu, ko vēlējis Kungs, tavs Dievs, – staigā viņa ceļus, turi viņa likumus, baušļus, tiesas un viņa liecības, kā rakstīts Mozus bauslībā, lai tev sekmējas it visā, ko tu dari, un visur, kurp tu ej. 4 Lai Kungs piepilda savus vārdus, ko viņš man teicis: ja tavi dēli turpinās staigāt savus ceļus manā priekšā patiesībā no visas sirds un dvēseles, tad – viņš sacīja – tev netrūks, kas sēdēs Israēla tronī.
5 Un tu arī zini, ko man ir darījis Joābs, Cerūjas dēls, ko viņš izdarīja ar diviem Israēla karaspēka virspavēlniekiem, Abnēru, Nēra dēlu, un Amāsu, Jetera dēlu, – viņš tos nogalināja, izliedams kara asinis miera laikā, un kara asinis ir pie jostas, kas ir ap viņa gurniem, un pie sandalēm, kas viņam kājās. 6 Bet tu dari pēc savas gudrības un neļauj viņa sirmajai galvai ar mieru noiet šeolā.
7 Un gileādieša Barzilaja dēliem izrādi laipnību, lai viņi ēd pie tava galda, jo viņi bija ar mani, kad es bēgu no tava brāļa Abšāloma.
8 Un, redzi, pie tevis ir benjāminietis Šimī, Gēras dēls, no Bahūrīmas. Viņš mani nolādēja ar stipru lāstu tajā dienā, kad es devos uz Mahanaimu. Pēc tam viņš nāca lejā pie Jardānas man pretī. Un es zvērēju viņam pie Kunga, sacīdams: es tevi nenonāvēšu ar zobenu! 9 Bet tagad – neatstāj viņu nesodītu, jo tu esi gudrs vīrs un zini, ko ar viņu darīt. Liec viņa sirmajai galvai noiet šeolā ar asinīm.”
Dāvida nāve
(1L 3:41L 29:26–28)10 Un Dāvids apgūlās pie saviem tēviem, un viņu apbedīja Dāvida pilsētā. 11 Dāvids kā ķēniņš bija valdījis pār Israēlu četrdesmit gadus. Septiņus gadus viņš bija ķēniņš Hebronā, bet trīsdesmit trīs gadus viņš bija ķēniņš Jeruzālemē. 12 Sālamans sēdās sava tēva Dāvida tronī, un viņa valsts kļuva ļoti stipra.
Sālamans nostiprina savu valdīšanu
13 Tad Adonījāhu, Hagītas dēls, nāca pie Sālamana mātes Batšebas, un viņa jautāja: “Vai tu nāc ar mieru?” Viņš atbildēja: “Ar mieru.” 14 Tad viņš sacīja: “Man ar tevi jārunā.” Viņa teica: “Runā.” 15 Viņš sacīja: “Tu zini, ka man jau piederēja ķēniņvalsts un viss Israēls skatījās uz mani kā ķēniņu, bet ķēniņa vara tika manam brālim, jo tā viņam bija no Kunga. 16 Un tagad man tev ir viens lūgums – neaizraidi mani!” Un viņa sacīja: “Runā.” 17 Adonījāhu teica: “Lūdz ķēniņu Sālamanu, jo tevi viņš neatraidīs, lai dod man par sievu šūnēmieti Abīšagu.” 18 Un Batšeba sacīja: “Labi, es runāšu par tevi ar ķēniņu.”
19 Tad Batšeba gāja pie ķēniņa Sālamana, lai runātu ar viņu par Adonījāhu. Un ķēniņš piecēlās, viņai ienākot, paklanījās, apsēdās tronī un lika ķēniņa mātei apsēsties viņam līdzās, un viņa apsēdās Sālamanam pie labās rokas. 20 Viņa sacīja: “Man ir kāds mazs lūgums, es lūdzu tevi, neatraidi mani.” Ķēniņš sacīja viņai: “Lūdz, mana māte, jo es tevi neatraidīšu.” 21 Viņa sacīja: “Lai šūnēmieti Abīšagu dod par sievu tavam brālim Adonījāhu.” 22 Tad ķēniņš Sālamans atbildēja savai mātei: “Kāpēc tu lūdz Adonījāhu tikai šūnēmieti Abīšagu, tad jau lūdz viņam arī ķēniņvalsti, jo viņš, mans brālis, ir vecāks par mani un viņu atbalsta priesteris Ebjātārs un Joābs, Cerūjas dēls.”
23 Un ķēniņš Sālamans zvērēja pie Kunga, sacīdams: “Lai Dievs man dara tā un vēl vairāk, ja Adonījāhu nav runājis šos vārdus pret savu dzīvību. 24 Tiešām, dzīvs Kungs, kurš mani ir stiprinājis un nosēdinājis mana tēva Dāvida tronī, kurš uzcēlis manu namu, kā bija solījis! Adonījāhu mirs jau šodien!” 25 Un ķēniņš Sālamans sūtīja Benājāhu, Jehojādas dēlu, kurš kāva viņu, ka tas mira.
26 Un priesterim Ebjātāram ķēniņš sacīja: “Ej uz Anātotu, kur tev ir tīrums, jo tu esi nolemts nāvei, bet šodien es tevi nelikšu nonāvēt, jo tu nesi Kunga Dieva šķirstu mana tēva Dāvida priekšā un esi cietis visu, ko izcieta mans tēvs.” 27 Tā Sālamans padzina Ebjātāru no Kunga priesteru amata, lai piepildītos Kunga vārdi, kurus viņš bija sacījis par Ēlī namu Šīlo.
28 Kad šī vēsts sasniedza Joābu, kurš bija atbalstījis Adonījāhu, bet neatbalstīja Abšālomu, Joābs bēga uz Kunga telti un stipri satvēra altāra ragus. 29 Ķēniņam Sālamanam pavēstīja: “Joābs ir aizbēdzis uz Kunga telti, un, redzi, viņš ir pie altāra!” Tad Sālamans sūtīja Benājāhu, Jehojādas dēlu, sacīdams: “Ej nokauj viņu!” 30 Un Benājāhu iegāja Kunga teltī un sacīja Joābam: “Tā saka ķēniņš: nāc ārā!” Bet viņš sacīja: “Nē, es miršu šeit!” Tad Benājāhu atbildēja ķēniņam: “Tā man atbildēja Joābs.” 31 Tad ķēniņš sacīja: “Dari, kā viņš teica, nokauj viņu un apbedī, un tu noņemsi no manis un mana tēva nama tās asinis, kuras Joābs ir velti izlējis. 32 Lai Kungs liek atgriezties asinīm pār viņa galvu, jo viņš nokāva divus vīrus, taisnīgākus un labākus par viņu, un nogalēja tos ar zobenu, bet mans tēvs Dāvids to nezināja – Abnēru, Nēra dēlu, Israēla karaspēka virspavēlnieku, un Amāsu, Jetera dēlu, Jūdas karaspēka virspavēlnieku. 33 Un viņu asinis lai atgriežas pār Joāba un viņa pēcnācēju galvām uz mūžiem, bet Dāvidam, viņa pēcnācējiem un viņa namam un tronim lai ir miers no Kunga uz mūžiem.” 34 Tad Benājāhu, Jehojādas dēls, gāja augšā, kāva viņu un nogalēja. Viņš to apbedīja pie viņa nama tuksnesī. 35 Un ķēniņš iecēla Benājāhu, Jehojādas dēlu, Joāba vietā pār karaspēku, un priesteri Cādoku ķēniņš iecēla Ebjātāra vietā. 36 Tad ķēniņš sūtīja pēc Šimī un sacīja viņam: “Cel Jeruzālemē sev namu un dzīvo tajā, bet nekur projām no turienes nedodies. 37 Tajā dienā, kad tu celsies un iesi pāri Kidronas upes ielejai, tad zini droši – tu tiešām mirsi. Tavas asinis paliks uz tavas galvas.” 38 Tad Šimī sacīja ķēniņam: “Vārdi, ko mans kungs, ķēniņš, runāja, ir labi, viņa kalps tā darīs.” Un Šimī dzīvoja Jeruzālemē ilgu laiku.
39 Bet trešā gada beigās divi Šimī vergi aizbēga pie Ahīša, Maahas dēla, Gatas ķēniņa. Un Šimī stāstīja: “Redzi, tavi vergi ir Gatā!” 40 Tad Šimī cēlās, apsegloja savu ēzeli un devās uz Gatu pie Ahīša meklēt savus vergus. Un Šimī atveda savus vergus no Gatas. 41 Sālamanam tika stāstīts, ka Šimī gājis no Jeruzālemes uz Gatu un ir atgriezies. 42 Tad ķēniņš sūtīja pēc Šimī un sacīja: “Vai es tevi nenozvērināju pie Kunga, vai neapliecināju tev, sacīdams: tajā dienā, kad tu iesi un dosies vienalga, kur, tad zini droši, ka tu tiešām mirsi! Un tu man sacīji: tie ir labi vārdi, kurus es dzirdēju. 43 Kādēļ tu neturēji Kunga zvērestu un pavēli, ko es tev devu?” 44 Ķēniņš sacīja Šimī: “Tu zini visu ļaunumu, kas tev bija sirdī, – to tu darīji manam tēvam Dāvidam, un Kungs nu atgriež tavu ļaunumu pār tavu galvu, 45 bet ķēniņš Sālamans būs svētīts, un Dāvida tronis būs stiprs Kunga priekšā līdz mūžībai.” 46 Un ķēniņš pavēlēja Benājāhu, Jehojādas dēlam, un tas izgāja ārā, kāva to, un Šimī mira.
Bet valsts nostiprinājās Sālamana rokās.
