1Ki 2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Kgs 2:1-12: 2:1-12 David gave his final charge to Solomon in two sections: personal advice for spiritual living (2:2-4 ) and instructions about people David had dealt with (2:5-9 ).

Summary for 1Kgs 2:1-12: 2:1-12 ^a David gave his final charge to Solomon in two sections: personal advice for spiritual living (2:2-4 ^b) and instructions about people David had dealt with (2:5-9 ^c).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:2-4: 2:2-4 ^d David’s advice to Solomon combined the spiritual and ethical standards of Deuteronomy, the standards of the covenant through Moses (see Lev 18:4-5 ^e; Deut 5:33 ^f; 6:4-5 ^g; 8:6 ^h; 10:12 ⁱ), and the promises of the covenant with David (2 Sam 7:12-16 ^j, 25 ^k). If Solomon would keep God’s standards of righteousness, the promises would be transmitted to his heir, who in turn could claim God’s blessings and convey them to subsequent generations (Ps 89:3-4 ^l, 20 ^m, 24 ⁿ, 27-37 ^o).

• The preeminent heir of David, the Messiah, would embody true righteousness (Isa 11:1-5 ^p), receive the full benefits of the covenant (Jer 33:14-16 ^q), and enact a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah (Jer 31:31-34 ^r; Ezek 34:24-31 ^s; 37:24-28 ^t). The New Testament reveals Jesus as that son of David who has come (Matt 1:1 ^u; Rom 1:1-4 ^v); he will come again to fulfill Old Testament prophecies and bless all people (Luke 1:67-79 ^w; Gal 3:26-29 ^x; Rev 3:21 ^y). 2:2 ^z Take courage and be a man: God and Moses had given this same charge to Joshua at the time of the conquest (Deut 31:6-7 ^aa; Josh 1:6-7 ^ab, 9 ^ac). Joshua and Hezekiah gave this admonition to Israelite forces when facing enemies (Josh 1:16-18 ^ad; 10:24-28 ^ae; 2 Chr 32:7 ^af). David had learned the value of godly courage (Pss 27:13-14 ^ag; 31:23-24 ^ah). When Paul urged Christians to be courageous (literally be men) and strong (1 Cor 16:13 ^ai), he used the same words as the Greek Old Testament uses for the charges by Moses, Joshua, Hezekiah, and the Lord. An interesting parallel is found in the account of Bishop Polycarp’s martyrdom. As he was led into the stadium facing execution, Polycarp heard a voice from heaven saying, “Be strong, Polycarp, be a man!” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 9:1).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:5-6: 2:5-6 ^aj Joab had supported David’s bid for kingship but had become too ambitious. He had murdered former military rivals Abner (2 Sam 3:22-30 ^ak) and Amasa (2 Sam 20:10 ^al), as well as David’s son Absalom (2 Sam 18:1-18 ^am). A party to David’s murder of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam 11:14-27 ^an), Joab had grown very powerful (2 Sam 20:23 ^ao), and his backing of Adonijah posed a serious threat to Solomon.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:7-9: 2:7-9 ^ap Barzillai unwaveringly supported David during his trouble with Absalom, while Shimei openly opposed David (2 Sam 16:5-13 ^aq; 19:6-23 ^ar). 2:7 ^as at your table: As he had done for Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:6-13 ^at), David provided for Barzillai and his family. This privilege assured their continued loyalty.
2:8 ^au Mahanaim was David’s refuge during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam 17:24 ^av). The Egyptian pharaoh, Shishak, invaded it during Rehoboam’s reign (see 1 Kgs 14:25 ^aw).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:10-12: 2:10-12 ^ax David died peacefully after a forty-year reign, knowing that the kingdom was firmly established in Solomon, his designated heir. Various locations have been proposed for David’s tomb, but none has been confirmed (cp. Acts 2:29 ^ay). Royal tombs were used at least until Hezekiah’s days (2 Kgs 20:21 ^az).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:13-15: 2:13-15 ^ba Adonijah contradicted his supposed peaceful intentions when he declared, the kingdom was rightfully mine.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:16-18: 2:16-18 ^bb let me marry Abishag: Possessing the king’s concubine was a mark of royal legitimacy. When David became king, he was given Saul’s wives (2 Sam 12:7-8 ^bc). The rebellious Absalom claimed David’s concubines (2 Sam 16:20-22 ^bd).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:19-21: 2:19-21 ^be Solomon understood the intentions behind Adonijah’s small request. Adonijah’s desire to marry Abishag could have launched a claim to the throne, whether or not she was officially in David’s harem.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:22-25: 2:22-25 ^bf Because Adonijah violated his terms of submission to Solomon (1:52-53 ^bg), the king ordered Benaiah (see 1:8 ^bh, 26 ^bi, 38 ^bj) to execute him.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:26-35: 2:26-35 ^bk Solomon presumed that Adonijah’s chief supporters, Abiathar and Joab, remained involved in Adonijah’s schemes, so Solomon dealt with them as well.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:26-27: 2:26-27 ^bl Abiathar had treasonously supported Adonijah (1:7 ^bm, 25 ^bn). But he was deposed rather than killed because he had carried the Ark (2 Sam 15:24 ^bo, 29 ^bp, 35 ^bq), had supported David, and had shared all his hardships. Abiathar’s removal from the priesthood fulfilled the Lord’s word about the house of Eli in Ithamar’s line (1 Sam 2:30-35 ^br). Zadok’s appointment (1 Kgs 4:2 ^bs) returned the high priesthood to Eleazar’s line as it had been before Eli (Num 20:22-28 ^bt; 25:11-13 ^bu; 2 Sam 8:17 ^bv; 1 Chr 6:1-8 ^bw, 50-53 ^bx; Ezra 7:2-5 ^by) and as it continued throughout the divided monarchy (2 Chr 31:10 ^bz; Ezek 43:19 ^ca).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:28-29: 2:28-29 ^cb Following Adonijah’s example (1:50 ^cc), Joab hoped to find mercy by grasping the horns of the altar according to the provisions of the law of Moses (Exod 21:12-14 ^cd; Num 35:22-25 ^ce; Deut 19:4-5 ^cf). But because Joab was a murderer, he could not claim clemency (see 2 Sam 3:27 ^cg; 18:14 ^ch; 20:10 ^ci).
Summary for 1Kgs 2:36-38: 2:36-38 ^cj The confinement of Shimei prevented him from reaching his kinsmen in Benjamin to stir up trouble for the king.
Summary for 1Kgs 2:39-46: 2:39-46 ^ck Shimei’s journey to Gath, ostensibly to recover his runaway slaves, violated his agreement. Technically, he did not cross the Kidron Valley in going to Gath, but the penalty was understood by both parties to apply to Shimei’s going anywhere else. Because Shimei violated his oath to the Lord (2:43 ^cl) and because of his past hostilities toward David (2 Sam 16:5-13 ^cm; 19:16-23 ^cn), Solomon instructed Benaiah to execute him.