New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Kings 2
2
"I'm about to die, just as everyone else on earth does. So be strong. Show how brave you are.
Reference
3
Do everything the Lord your God requires. Live the way he wants you to. Obey his orders and commands. Keep his laws and rules. Do everything that is written in the Law of Moses. Then you will have success in everything you do. You will succeed everywhere you go.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 119:111
Psalm 119:2
Psalm 119:138
Word
Deuteronomy 29:9
1 Chronicles 29:19
Joshua 22:5
4
"The Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He said, 'Your sons must be careful about how they live. They must be faithful to me with all their heart and soul. Then you will always have a man sitting on the throne of Israel.'
Reference
5
"You yourself know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me. You know that he killed Abner, the son of Ner, and Amasa, the son of Jether. They were the two commanders of Israel's armies. He killed them in a time of peace. It wasn't a time of war. Joab spilled the blood of Abner and Amasa. It stained the belt that was around his waist. It also stained the sandals on his feet.
Reference
Blood
2 Samuel 3:27
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 20:10
2 Samuel 18:5
2 Samuel 18:12
2 Samuel 3:39
2 Samuel 18:14
6
You are wise. So I leave him in your hands. Just don't let him live to become an old man. Don't let him die peacefully.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 2:9
Proverbs 28:17
Proverbs 20:26
Ecclesiastes 8:11
Peace
Isaiah 48:22
Isaiah 57:21
Psalm 37:37
7
"But be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Provide what they need. They were faithful to me when I had to run away from your brother Absalom.
Reference
8
"Don't forget Shimei, the son of Gera. He's still around. He's from Bahurim in the territory of Benjamin. He called down bitter curses on me. He did it on the day I went to Mahanaim. Later, he came down to welcome me at the Jordan River. At that time I took an oath in the name of the Lord. I promised Shimei, 'I won't put you to death with my sword.'
9
But now I want you to think of him as guilty. You are wise. You will know what to do to him. Don't let him live to become an old man. Put him to death."
Reference
10
David joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the City of David.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 29:28
1 Kings 1:21
References David
Acts 2:29
Acts 13:36
1 Kings 11:43
1 Kings 3:1
2 Samuel 5:7
11
He had ruled over Israel for 40 years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron. Then he ruled for 33 years in Jerusalem.
12
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David. His position as king was made secure.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Chronicles 1:1
13
Adonijah was the son of David's wife Haggith. He went to Bathsheba. She was Solomon's mother. She asked Adonijah, "Have you come in peace?" He answered, "Yes. I've come in peace."
14
He continued, "I want to ask you something." "Go ahead," she replied.
15
He said, "As you know, the kingdom belonged to me. The whole nation of Israel thought of me as their king. But now things have changed. The kingdom belongs to my brother. The Lord has given it to him.
Reference
16
But I have a favor to ask of you. Don't say no to me." "Go ahead," she said.
17
So he continued, "Please ask King Solomon for a favor. He won't say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem to be my wife."
18
"All right," Bathsheba replied. "I'll speak to the king for you."
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 14:15
19
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon. She went to him to speak for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her. He bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother. She sat down at his right side.
Reference
Kingdom
Psalm 45:9
20
"I have one small favor to ask of you," she said. "Don't say no to me." The king replied, "Mother, go ahead and ask. I won't say no to you."
21
She said, "Let your brother Adonijah get married to Abishag, the Shunammite."
22
King Solomon answered his mother, "Why are you asking for Abishag, the Shunammite, for Adonijah? You might as well ask me to give him the whole kingdom! After all, he's my older brother. And he doesn't want the kingdom only for himself. He also wants it for the priest Abiathar and for Joab, the son of Zeruiah."
Reference
Kingdom
1 Chronicles 3:2
23
Then King Solomon took an oath and made a promise in the name of the Lord. He said, "Adonijah will pay with his life because of what he has asked for. If he doesn't, may God punish me greatly.
Reference
References Lord
Ruth 1:17
24
The Lord has made my position as king secure. I'm sitting on the throne of my father David. The Lord has built a royal house for me, just as he promised. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that Adonijah will be put to death today."
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 22:10
25
So King Solomon gave the order to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah struck Adonijah down. And Adonijah died.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 8:18
26
The king spoke to the priest Abiathar. He said, "Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You should really be put to death. But I won't have it done now. That's because you carried the ark of the Lord and King. You did it for my father David. You shared all of his hard times."
Reference
27
So Solomon wouldn't let Abiathar serve as a priest of the Lord anymore. That's how the message the Lord had spoken at Shiloh came true. He had spoken it about the family of Eli.
28
News of what Solomon had done reached Joab. Joab had never made evil plans along with Absalom. But he had joined Adonijah. So he ran to the tent of the Lord. He took hold of the horns that stuck out from the upper corners of the altar for burnt offerings.
Reference
29
King Solomon was told that Joab had run to the tent. He was also told that Joab was by the altar. Then Solomon gave the order to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. He told him, "Go! Strike him down!"
Reference
30
So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord. He said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come on out!' " But Joab answered, "No. I'd rather die here." Benaiah told the king what Joab had said to him.
31
Then the king commanded Benaiah, "Do what he says. Strike him down. Bury his body. Then I and my family won't be held accountable for the blood Joab spilled. He killed people who weren't guilty of doing anything wrong.
Reference
32
The Lord will pay him back for the blood he spilled. Joab attacked two men. He killed them with his sword. And my father David didn't even know anything about it. "Joab killed Abner, the son of Ner. Abner was the commander of Israel's army. Joab also killed Amasa, the son of Jether. Amasa was the commander of Judah's army. Abner and Amasa were better men than Joab is. They were more honest than he is.
Reference
Blood
Judges 9:24
1 Kings 2:5
Parallel theme
Psalm 7:16
Judges 9:57
References Israel
2 Chronicles 21:13
33
May Joab and his children after him be held forever accountable for spilling the blood of Abner and Amasa. "But may David and his children after him enjoy the Lord's peace and rest forever. May the Lord also give his peace to David's royal house and kingdom forever."
Reference
Blood
1 Kings 2:32
34
So Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up to the Lord's tent. There he struck Joab down. And he killed him. Joab's body was buried on his own land in the desert.
Reference
35
The king put Benaiah in charge of the army. Benaiah took Joab's place. The king also put the priest Zadok in Abiathar's place.
Reference
36
Then the king sent for Shimei. He said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem. Live there. Don't go anywhere else.
37
You must not leave the city and go across the Kidron Valley. If you do, you can be sure you will die. And it will be your own fault."
Reference
Blood
2 Samuel 1:16
Joshua 2:19
Ezekiel 18:13
Leviticus 20:9
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 15:23
John 18:1
2 Kings 23:6
38
Shimei replied to the king, "You are my king and master. What you say is good. I'll do it." Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.
39
Three years after Solomon had talked with Shimei, two of Shimei's slaves ran off. They went to Achish, the king of Gath. He was the son of Maacah. Shimei was told, "Your slaves are in Gath."
40
When Shimei heard that, he put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves. Shimei found them and brought them back from Gath.
41
Solomon was told that Shimei had left Jerusalem. He was told he had gone to Gath and had returned.
42
So the king sent for Shimei. He said to him, "Didn't I make you take an oath in the name of the Lord? Didn't I warn you? I said, 'You must not leave the city and go somewhere else. If you do, you can be sure you will die.' At that time you said to me, 'What you say is good. I'll obey your command.'
43
So why didn't you keep your oath to the Lord? Why didn't you obey the command I gave you?"
44
The king continued, "You know all of the wrong things you did to my father David. In your heart you know them. Now the Lord will pay you back for what you did.
Reference
Evil
1 Samuel 25:39
Proverbs 5:22
Parallel theme
Psalm 7:16
1 John 3:20
Romans 2:15
John 8:9
Hosea 4:9
References Lord
Ezekiel 17:19
45
But I will be blessed. The Lord will make David's kingdom secure forever."
Reference
Kingdom
Proverbs 25:5
Summary of 1 Kings 2
1 Kings Chapter 2 is the chapter where David's kingdom officially passes to Solomon, and Solomon begins the difficult work of establishing his rule.
The chapter begins with David's final instructions to Solomon. David encourages his son to remain faithful to God, reminding him that the success of his reign depends on obedience to God's commandments. David also provides Solomon with practical guidance concerning several individuals whose actions affected Israel's stability.
David mentions Joab, whose murders of Abner and Amasa had created unresolved injustice. He reminds Solomon to act wisely concerning him. David also instructs Solomon to reward the family of Barzillai because of their loyalty during Absalom's rebellion. Finally, he warns Solomon about Shimei, who had cursed David but had been spared.
After David dies and is buried in Jerusalem, Solomon becomes the undisputed king of Israel.
However, Solomon's leadership is immediately tested when Adonijah attempts to strengthen his position through a request involving Abishag. Solomon recognizes the political meaning behind the request and concludes that Adonijah represents a continuing threat. Adonijah is executed, and Abiathar is removed from the priesthood, fulfilling God's earlier judgment against Eli's family.
Solomon then deals with Joab, whose past violence and support for Adonijah could not be ignored. Joab's execution removes a powerful but dangerous figure from the kingdom. Benaiah replaces him as commander of the army, and Zadok becomes the leading priest.
Finally, Solomon addresses Shimei. Unlike Adonijah and Joab, Shimei receives a clear opportunity to live peacefully if he obeys Solomon's command. However, he violates the agreement and is executed.
By the end of the chapter, Solomon has established his authority. The kingdom is no longer divided by competing claims, unresolved rebellion, or disloyal officials.
The chapter demonstrates that leadership requires wisdom, courage, justice, and dependence on God. Solomon's actions prepare the way for the peaceful and prosperous years that follow.
The chapter begins with David's final instructions to Solomon. David encourages his son to remain faithful to God, reminding him that the success of his reign depends on obedience to God's commandments. David also provides Solomon with practical guidance concerning several individuals whose actions affected Israel's stability.
David mentions Joab, whose murders of Abner and Amasa had created unresolved injustice. He reminds Solomon to act wisely concerning him. David also instructs Solomon to reward the family of Barzillai because of their loyalty during Absalom's rebellion. Finally, he warns Solomon about Shimei, who had cursed David but had been spared.
After David dies and is buried in Jerusalem, Solomon becomes the undisputed king of Israel.
However, Solomon's leadership is immediately tested when Adonijah attempts to strengthen his position through a request involving Abishag. Solomon recognizes the political meaning behind the request and concludes that Adonijah represents a continuing threat. Adonijah is executed, and Abiathar is removed from the priesthood, fulfilling God's earlier judgment against Eli's family.
Solomon then deals with Joab, whose past violence and support for Adonijah could not be ignored. Joab's execution removes a powerful but dangerous figure from the kingdom. Benaiah replaces him as commander of the army, and Zadok becomes the leading priest.
Finally, Solomon addresses Shimei. Unlike Adonijah and Joab, Shimei receives a clear opportunity to live peacefully if he obeys Solomon's command. However, he violates the agreement and is executed.
By the end of the chapter, Solomon has established his authority. The kingdom is no longer divided by competing claims, unresolved rebellion, or disloyal officials.
The chapter demonstrates that leadership requires wisdom, courage, justice, and dependence on God. Solomon's actions prepare the way for the peaceful and prosperous years that follow.