David's Instructions to Solomon

1 Kings 2

1 n When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 o "I am about to go the way of all the earth. p Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, q that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may r establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, s 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, t to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, u you shall not lack 1 a man on the throne of Israel.'

5 "Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah v did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, w Abner the son of Ner, x and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging 2 in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war 3 on the belt around his 4 waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore y according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of z Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be a among those who eat at your table, b for with such loyalty 5 they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you c Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day d when I went to Mahanaim. e But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.' 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, f for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall g bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 47:29
    And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt.
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 23:14
    And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
  3. Cross References
    Joshua 1:6 - 7
    Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 29:9
    Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
    1 Chronicles 22:12 - 13
    Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
  5. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:25
    And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 132:12
    If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.
  7. Cross References
    1 Kings 3:6
    And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
    1 Kings 9:4
    And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules.
    2 Kings 20:3
    Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:25
    Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.
    1 Kings 9:5
    Then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.
    2 Samuel 7:12 - 13
    When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
  9. Cross References
    2 Samuel 18:5
    And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
    2 Samuel 18:12
    But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'For my sake protect the young man Absalom.
    2 Samuel 18:14
    Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.
    2 Samuel 3:39
    And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!
  10. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:32
    The Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
    2 Samuel 3:27
    And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
  11. Cross References
    2 Samuel 20:10
    But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab's hand. So Joab struck him with it in the stomach and spilled his entrails to the ground without striking a second blow, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
  12. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:9
    Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.
  13. Cross References
    2 Samuel 19:31 - 38
    Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan.
  14. Cross References
    2 Samuel 9:7
    And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.
    2 Samuel 9:10
    And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
  15. Cross References
    2 Samuel 17:27 - 29
    When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.
  16. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:5
    When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.
  17. Cross References
    2 Samuel 17:24
    Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
  18. Cross References
    2 Samuel 19:18
    And they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan.
  19. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:6
    Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 42:38
    But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.
    Genesis 44:31
    As soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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