1 Kings 2:1-11

The Death of David

v. 1. Now, the days of David drew nigh that he should die; he felt that death was approaching rapidly; and he charged Solomon, his son, saying,

v. 2. I go the way of all the earth, walking on the way which led to death, Joshua 23:14. Be thou strong therefore and show thyself a man, a true watchman in the service of Jehovah;

v. 3. and keep the charge of the Lord, thy God, that which was entrusted to him in his kingly office, that he might perform it, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, the sum total of the Law in all its different aspects, in its various relations to men, whether this had special reference to the children of Israel or not, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper, be skilful, use wise care, in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself, performing all things in such a manner as to have the approval of Jehovah and therefore be a partaker of true prosperity;

v. 4. that the Lord may continue His word which He spake concerning me, saying, if thy children take heed to their way to walk before Me in truth, in faithful adherence to His covenant, with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, shall not be cut off to thee, (said He) a man on the throne of Israel. The Messianic promise 2 Samuel 7:12-1 Chronicles : implied, of course, an unbroken succession of descendants of David, through whom the family of David might be continued. The posterity of David was not to be exterminated, for it was a branch out of his root who was to be the Messiah of the world.

v. 5. Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me, since he, with his strange influence in Israel, often acted counter to the wishes of the king, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner, the son of Ner, and unto Amasa, the son of Jether, whom he slew, in willful and malicious murder, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, 2 Samuel 3:27-Hosea :; 2 Samuel 20:8-1 Samuel :, and in his shoes that were on his feet, these articles of apparel being named as those of a warrior, the former serving to hold up the sheath of the sword, the latter for marching. Joab had soiled with innocent blood the very insignia of his rank and dignity as general and soldier.

v. 6. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, in choosing the right moment when Joab might give occasion, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace, to punish him for his blood-guiltiness in such a manner as not to provoke murmuring on the part of the people.

v. 7. But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, Chimham being even now one of those enjoying the bounty of the king, 2 Samuel 19:40, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom, thy brother, 2 Samuel 17:27.

v. 8. And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei, the son of Gerah, a man connected with the same occasion, 2 Samuel 16:5-Joshua :; 2 Samuel 19:21, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse, with a heinous and horrible malediction, in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, 2 Samuel 19:23, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. He had forgiven the insult to his person, but the disgrace heaped upon the royal office must be avenged.

v. 9. Now, therefore, hold him not guiltless, he had a duty to perform as king and judge and as representative of the divine right; for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood. Punishment must be visited upon him, only the time and manner of inflicting it was left to Solomon's discretion.

v. 10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, in the city of Zion.

v. 11. And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years, in round numbers; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. Thus the believers, having finished their course, fall asleep in peace and join the number of those that are in the presence of the Lord.