1Ki 2:1-11 | ESV | STEP | When David’s time to die drew near , he commanded Solomon his son , saying ,

1 Kings 2:1-11

David’s Instructions to Solomon

1 ^aWhen David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 ^b“I am about to go the way of all the earth. ^cBe 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, ^dthat you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may ^eestablish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ^f‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, ^gto walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, ^hyou shall not lack ^{▼▼Hebrew there shall not be cut off for you} a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah ^jdid to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, ^kAbner the son of Ner, ^land Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging ^{▼▼Septuagint; Hebrew placing} in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war ^{▼▼Septuagint innocent blood} on the belt around his ^{▼▼Septuagint my; twice in this verse} waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore ^paccording to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of ^qBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them be ^ramong those who eat at your table, ^sfor with such loyalty ^{▼▼Or steadfast love} they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you ^uShimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day ^vwhen I went to Mahanaim. ^wBut 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, ^xfor you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall ^ybring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

The Death of David

10 ^zThen David slept with his fathers and was buried in ^aathe city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was ^abforty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.