1 Kings 2

All 46 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1As David's life was coming to an end, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
2. 2"I'm about to die, as everyone must. Be strong and prove yourself a man.
3. 3Obey the charge of the LORD your God by walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies, as written in the law of Moses. This will ensure you prosper in all you do and wherever you go.
4. 4Then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me: 'If your descendants are careful to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will always have a man on the throne of Israel.'
5. 5You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them during peacetime, shedding the blood of war and putting the blood of war on his belt around his waist and in his shoes on his feet.
6. 6Therefore, act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7. 7But be kind to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them eat at your table, because they stood by me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.
8. 8"Then there's Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim. He cursed me viciously the day I fled to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, 'I won't put you to death with the sword.'
9. 9Don't let him go unpunished. You're a wise man — you'll know what to do. Make sure his gray head goes down to the grave in blood."
10. 10So David died and was buried in the city of David.
11. 11The days that David reigned over Israel were 40 years: he reigned 7 years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem.
12. 12Solomon then took his place on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.
13. 13Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come in peace?" He answered, "Yes, in peace."
14. 14Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She replied, "Go ahead."
15. 15He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel looked to me to reign. However, the kingdom has changed hands and become my brother's, because the LORD gave it to him."
16. 16Now I have just one request. Please don't refuse me." She said, "Go on."
17. 17He said, "Please ask King Solomon — he won't refuse you — to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
18. 18Bathsheba replied, "All right. I'll speak to the king for you."
19. 19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah's behalf. The king stood up to greet her and bowed to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a seat set for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.
20. 20She said, "I have one small request. Please don't turn me down." The king replied, "Ask away, Mother. I won't refuse you."
21. 21She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife."
22. 22King Solomon answered his mother, "Why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well ask for the kingdom too! He's my older brother, and he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side."
23. 23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life."
24. 24As surely as the LORD lives — the one who established me and placed me on my father David's throne and built me a dynasty as he promised — Adonijah will be put to death today."
25. 25King Solomon gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck Adonijah down, killing him.
26. 26To Abiathar the priest, the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the LORD God before David, my father, and because you suffered through everything my father suffered."
27. 27So Solomon removed Abiathar from serving as priest of the LORD. This fulfilled the word the LORD had spoken against the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28. 28Then news came to Joab — for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
29. 29When King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was clinging to the altar, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada with orders: "Go, strike him down."
30. 30Benaiah went to the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out.'" But Joab replied, "No — I will die right here." Benaiah reported back to the king: "This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me."
31. 31The king told him, "Do what he says — strike him down and bury him. This will remove the guilt of the innocent blood Joab shed from me and from my father's family.
32. 32The LORD will bring his bloodshed back on his own head, because he struck down 2 men who were more righteous and better than he was — Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army — killing them with the sword without my father David's knowledge.
33. 33Their blood will come back on Joab's head and on the heads of his descendants forever. But David, his descendants, his house, and his throne will have peace from the LORD forever.
34. 34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went and struck Joab down and killed him. He was buried at his own property in the wilderness.
35. 35The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada as commander of the army in Joab's place, and he appointed Zadok as priest in place of Abiathar.
36. 36Then the king summoned Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Don't leave the city for any reason.
37. 37The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be certain you will die. Your blood will be on your own head."
38. 38Shimei replied, "That's fair. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
39. 39But 3 years later, 2 of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. When Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath,"
40. 40Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to see Achish and look for his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants back from Gath.
41. 41When Solomon was informed that Shimei had left Jerusalem and gone to Gath and returned,
42. 42the king summoned Shimei and said, "Didn't I make you swear by the LORD? Didn't I warn you clearly, 'The day you leave and go anywhere else, you can be certain you will die'? And you told me, 'That's fair. I agree.'
43. 43So why didn't you keep the oath you swore before the LORD? Why did you disobey the command I gave you?"
44. 44The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wicked things you did to my father David. Now the LORD will bring that wickedness back on your own head.
45. 45But King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will be established before the LORD forever."
46. 46Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was firmly established under Solomon's rule.