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.
1 Kad Dāvidam pienāca miršanas brīdis, tad viņš pavēlēja savam dēlam Salamanam, sacīdams: 2 "Es eju tagad visas radības ceļu, esi stiprs un parādi sevi kā vīru. 3 Ievēro visu Tā Kunga, sava Dieva, nolikto, lai tu staigātu pa Viņa ceļiem, glabātu stingri Viņa likumus un Viņa baušļus, Viņa tiesas un Viņa liecības, kā tās ir uzrakstītas Mozus bauslībā, lai tev veiktos visā, ko tu dari un kur vien tu grieztos. 4 Lai Dievs apstiprina Savu apsolījumu, ko Viņš par mani ir teicis, sacīdams: ja vien tavi dēli turēs savas gaitas tā, ka tie ar visu savu sirdi un dvēseli centīsies staigāt patiesībā, tad, Viņš sacīja, tev neviens netiks atrauts no Israēla troņa. 5 Un tāpat tu jau zini, ko man ir nodarījis Joābs, Cerujas dēls, proti, kā tas ir rīkojies ar diviem Israēla karaspēka virspavēlniekiem - ar Abneru, Nera dēlu, un ar Amasu, Jetera dēlu -, kurus viņš ir nogalinājis, kara asinis izliedams miera laikā un aptraipīdams ar izlietām asinīm savu jostu, kas ap viņa gurniem, un savas kurpes, kas tam kājās. 6 Tādēļ rīkojies pēc savas gudrības, bet viņš gan lai neaiziet mierā sirmā vecumā mirušo valstībā. 7 Bet ar gileādieša Barzillaja dēliem apejies žēlsirdīgi: tie lai atrodas starp tiem, kas pastāvīgi ēd pie tava galda, jo tie turējās kopā ar mani tolaik, kad es bēgu no tava brāļa Absaloma. 8 Un redzi, pie tevis vēl ir arī benjamīnietis Šimejs, Geras dēls, no Bahurimas pilsētas, kas ar iznīcības lāstiem mani ir nolādējis tad, kad es biju ceļā uz Mahanajimu. Bet tad viņš bija atnācis man pretī pie Jordānas, un es ar zvērestu pie Tā Kunga esmu apņēmies, solīdamies: ar zobenu es tevi nenonāvēšu. 9 Bet tu viņu neturi vis par tik nevainīgu, jo tu esi gudrs vīrs un zini, ko tu viņam izdarīsi, lai viņu sirmā vecumā novestu mirušo valstībā asinīm aptraipītu." 10 Un Dāvids gūlās pie saviem tēviem, un viņi to apglabāja Dāvida pilsētā. 11 Bet laiks, cik ilgi Dāvids bija ķēniņš pār Israēlu, bija četrdesmit gadi: Hebronā septiņi gadi un Jeruzālemē trīsdesmit trīs gadi. 12 Un Salamans mantoja sava tēva Dāvida troni, un viņa ķēniņa vara nostiprinājās. 13 Tad Adonja, Hagitas dēls, nāca pie Batsebas, Salamana mātes, un viņa tam jautāja: "Vai tu nāc ar mieru?" Un viņš atbildēja: "Ar mieru gan." 14 Un viņš sacīja: "Man tev kas sakāms." Un viņa teica: "Saki." 15 Un viņš sacīja: "Tu zini gan, ka man jau piederēja visa ķēniņa vara un uz mani sāka jau visi Israēlā celt savas acis, bet tad tā tika manam brālim, jo no Tā Kunga tā viņam bija nolemta. 16 Bet tagad es izlūdzos vienu lūgumu no tevis, neaizliedz to man." Un viņa tam sacīja: "Runā." 17 Un viņš sacīja: "Runā, lūdzu, ar ķēniņu Salamanu, jo tevi viņš droši vien nenoraidīs, lai viņš man dod sunamieti Abišagu par sievu." 18 Un Batseba sacīja: "Labi, es tevis labad parunāšu ar ķēniņu." 19 Batseba nogāja pie ķēniņa Salamana, lai ar viņu parunātu Adonjas labad. Un ķēniņš piecēlās, lai dotos tai pretī, un viņš nolieca savu vaigu viņas priekšā pie zemes un atsēdās atkal uz sava troņa, un viņš atsēdināja goda krēslā arī ķēniņa māti, un tā sēdēja viņa labajā pusē. 20 Un viņa sacīja: "Man pie tevis ir mazs lūgums, un lūdzu, neatsaki man to." Tad ķēniņš sacīja viņai: "Lūdz, mana māte, un es to nenoraidīšu." 21 Un tā sacīja: "Pavēli, lai sunamiete Abišaga top dota Adonjam par sievu." 22 Bet ķēniņš Salamans atbildēja un teica savai mātei: "Kādēļ tu lūdz Adonjam tikai sunamieti Abišagu? Prasi tad jau pie viena viņam arī ķēniņa varu, jo viņš ir mans brālis, vecāks nekā es, un viņa pusē ir tiklab priesteris Abjatārs, kā arī Joābs, Cerujas dēls." 23 Un ķēniņš Salamans nozvērējās pats Tā Kunga priekšā, sacīdams: "Lai man Tas Kungs dara tā un vēl vairāk, ja šis Adonjas lūgums nemaksātu viņam dzīvību. 24 Bet tagad: tik tiešām, ka Tas Kungs ir dzīvs, kas pats mani ir apstiprinājis, kas mani ir sēdinājis uz mana tēva Dāvida troņa un kas man namu ir uzcēlis, kā Viņš pats ir apsolījis: Adonjam šodien ir jāmirst!" 25 Un ķēniņš Salamans deva pavēli Benajam, Jojadas dēlam, un tas nodūra Adonju, un viņš nomira. 26 Bet priesterim Abjatāram ķēniņš pavēlēja: "Ej uz Anatotu, uz savu lauku, jo tu esi nāvei nolemts vīrs, bet šodien es vēl tevi nenonāvēšu, jo tu esi Tā Kunga Dieva šķirsta nesējs mana tēva Dāvida priekšā un arī tādēļ ne, ka tu esi dalījies ar manu tēvu visās tais ciešanās, kādas viņam nācās pārdzīvot." 27 Tā Salamans izraidīja Abjatāru, ka tas nevarēja vairs būt priesteris Tam Kungam, lai piepildītos Dieva vārds, kādu Viņš pār Ēļa namu bija runājis Šīlo. 28 Kad šī vēsts nonāca pie Joāba, kas gan bija atbalstījis Adonju, kaut arī Absalomam viņš nebija piebiedrojies, tad Joābs bēga Tā Kunga teltī un tur jo stipri satvēra altāra ragus. 29 Kad ķēniņam Salamanam arī tas tika paziņots, ka Joābs iebēdzis Tā Kunga teltī un stāvot tur blakus altārim, tad Salamans deva rīkojumu Benajam, Jojadas dēlam, sacīdams: "Ej un nodur viņu." 30 Un Benaja ienāca Tā Kunga teltī un teica Joābam: "Tā saka ķēniņš: ej ārā." Bet viņš sacīja: "Nē, es šeit pat gribu mirt." Un Benaja nonesa ķēniņam atbildi, sacīdams: "Tā runāja Joābs, un tā es viņam atbildēju." 31 Un ķēniņš sacīja viņam: "Dari tā, kā viņš pats tev teica: nogalini viņu un aproc viņu, lai es un mans tēva nams tiktu atbrīvoti no velti izlietām asinīm, kuras Joābs ir izlējis. 32 Un Tas Kungs lai uzliek viņa asins darbus uz viņa paša galvas, jo viņš uzbrucis un ar zobenu nokāvis divus labus un taisnīgus vīrus no mūsu pašu vidus, kaut gan mans tēvs Dāvids to nemaz nezināja, proti: Abneru, Nera dēlu, kas bija Israēla karaspēka virspavēlnieks, un Amasu, Jetera dēlu, Jūdas karaspēka virspavēlnieku. 33 Tagad viņu izlietās asinis lai nāk atpakaļ uz Joāba galvu un uz tā pēcnācēju galvām uz mūžīgiem laikiem, bet Dāvidam, viņa pēcnācējiem, viņa namam un viņa tronim lai no Tā Kunga tiek mūžīga labklājība." 34 Un Benaja, Jojadas dēls, gāja un uzbruka viņam ar zobenu un to nonāvēja. Un viņš to apglabāja viņa namā tuksnesī. 35 Un ķēniņš iecēla Benaju, Jojadas dēlu, viņa vietā pār karaspēku, bet priesteri Cadoku ķēniņš iecēla Abjatāra vietā. 36 Un ķēniņš nosūtīja vēsti un ataicināja Šimeju un sacīja viņam: "Uzcel pats sev namu Jeruzālemē un apmeties tur, bet neizej no turienes ne šur, ne tur. 37 Un zini, ka tanī dienā, kad tu iziesi un dosies pāri Kidronas ielejai, tu mirdams mirsi, un tavas asinis nāks pār tavu paša galvu." 38 Tad Šimejs sacīja ķēniņam: "Ko tu esi runājis, tas ir labi, mans kungs un ķēniņ: kā tu sacīji, tā arī tavs kalps to darīs." Un Šimejs nodzīvoja Jeruzālemē labu laiku. 39 Un notika, ka divi Šimeja kalpi pēc trim gadiem aizbēga pie Gātas ķēniņa Ahija, Maāhas dēla, un Šimejam tika paziņots: "Redzi, tavi kalpi ir Gātā." 40 Un Šimejs cēlās, pavēlēja apseglot savu ēzeli un devās uz Gātu pie Ahija, lai uzmeklētu savus kalpus. Un Šimejs tur nonāca un atveda savus kalpus no Gātas. 41 Un Salamanam tika paziņots, ka Šimejs esot bijis prom no Jeruzālemes un atkal atgriezies. 42 Tad ķēniņš lika atnākt Šimejam un sacīja viņam: "Vai es tev ar zvērestu pie Tā Kunga nesolījos un neliecināju tev, sacīdams: tanī dienā, kad tu, māju atstājis, noiesi vienā vai otrā vietā, tad zini, ka tu mirdams mirsi. Un tu piebildi: ko tu saki, tas ir labi, es klausīšu. 43 Un kādēļ tu tagad neesi klausījis to, kas bija ar zvērestu Tā Kunga priekšā apstiprināts? Tā taču arī bija pavēle, kādu es tev biju devis." 44 Un ķēniņš sacīja Šimejam: "Tu pats pazīsti savu sirdi, tos ļaunos darbus, kādus tu manam tēvam Dāvidam biji nodarījis, un Tas Kungs lai liek taviem ļaunajiem darbiem atgriezties uz tavu paša galvu. 45 Bet ķēniņš Salamans lai ir svētīts, un Dāvida tronim jābūt stipri pamatotam Tā Kunga priekšā uz mūžīgiem laikiem." 46 Un ķēniņš deva pavēli Benajam, Jojadas dēlam, un tas viņam ar zobenu uzbruka, un viņš nomira. Bet ķēniņa valsts vara bija nostiprināta ar Salamana roku.
