David’s Charge to Solomon
1When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
5“Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8“And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
10Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
Solomon’s Throne Established
13Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?”
He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14Then he added, “I have something to say to you.”
“You may say it,” she replied.
15“As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.”
“You may make it,” she said.
17So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
18“Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”
19When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
20“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”
The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”
21So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”
22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”
23Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.
26To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.
28When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”
30So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’ ”
But he answered, “No, I will die here.”
Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”
31Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. 33May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”
34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
36Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”
38Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.
39But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.
41When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”
44The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.”
46Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died.
The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.
Dawid Ma Salomo Afotu A Etwa To
1Dawid rebewu no, ɔde adwuma hyɛɛ Salomo nsa sɛ:
2“Merekɔ faako a ɛsɛ sɛ da bi ɔteasefo biara kɔ, enti yɛ den na kyerɛ wo mmaninyɛ, 3na yɛ nea Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn, hwehwɛ sɛ woyɛ. Nantew nʼakwan so, na di ne mmara ne nʼahyɛde so sɛnea wɔakyerɛw wɔ Mose mmara no mu no, sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wobɛkɔ so wɔ biribiara a wobɛyɛ mu ne baabiara a wobɛkɔ nso. 4Sɛ woyɛ eyi a na Awurade bedi ne bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ me no so se, ‘Sɛ wʼasefo hwɛ wɔn asetena, na wofi wɔn koma ne wɔn kra nyinaa mu nantew nokware mu wɔ mʼanim a, wɔn mu baako bɛtena Israel ahengua no so.’
5“Wunim se Seruia babarima Yoab kum mʼakofo asahene baanu no a ɛyɛ Ner babarima Abner ne Yeter babarima Amasa no. Okunkum wɔn, hwiee wɔn mogya gui, asomdwoe bere mu a ɛnyɛ ɔko bere mu, na ɔde wɔn mogya kekaa nʼabɔso a ɛbɔ nʼasen mu ne ne mpaboa a ɛhyɛ ne nan so. 6Wo ne no nni, na mma no mfa ne ti dwen nkɔ ɔda mu asomdwoe mu.
7“Na yɛ Barsilai a ofi Gilead no mmabarima adɔe, na ma wɔnka wɔn a wodidi wɔ wo didipon so no ho. Bere a miguan fii wo nuabarima Absalom ho no, wɔyɛɛ me adɔe.
8“Kae Gera Benyaminni a ofi Bahurim no babarima Simei. Ɔdomee me denneennen, da a mereguan akɔ Mahanaim no. Na obehyiaa me wɔ Yordan no, mede Awurade din kaa ntam sɛ, Merenkum no. 9Nanso ntam no mma onni bem. Woyɛ onyansafo na wubehu ɔkwan a wobɛfa so aka ne mogya agu.”
10Na Dawid wui, na wosiee no wɔ Dawid kurom. 11Odii hene wɔ Israel mfe aduanan a ne nkyerɛmu ne sɛ, odii Hebron so mfe ason na Yerusalem nso, odii ade mfe aduasa abiɛsa. 12Enti Salomo tenaa nʼagya Dawid ahengua so, na nʼadedi ase timii yiye.
Salomo Yɛ Nʼahenni Nhyehyɛe
13Na Hagit babarima Adoniya kɔɔ Salomo ne na Batseba nkyɛn. Batseba bisaa no se, “Wobaa no asomdwoe so ana?”
Obuaa no se, “Ɛyɛ asomdwoe so.” 14Na ɔka kaa ho se, “Mepɛ sɛ woyɛ me adɔe bi.”
Na Batseba bisae se, “Adɔe bɛn.”
15Adoniya kae se, “Sɛnea wunim no, na ahemman no yɛ me dea. Na Israel nyinaa hwɛ me kwan sɛ wɔn hene. Nanso nneɛma sesae, na ahemman no kɔɔ me nuabarima nkyɛn, efisɛ Awurade pɛ no saa. 16Mprempren, ade baako na mepɛ sɛ mesrɛ wo. Mfa nkame me.”
Ɔkae se, “Wutumi ka.”
17Na ɔtoaa so se, “Kɔsrɛ ɔhene Salomo ma me, na ɔremfa dekode no nkame wo. Ka na ɔmfa Abisag Sunamni no mma me sɛ me yere.”
18Na Batseba buae se, “Eye mɛka ho asɛm akyerɛ ɔhene ama wo.”
19Enti Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene Salomo nkyɛn sɛ ɔrekɔkasa ama Adoniya. Ɔhene no sɔree sɛ ɔrebehyia no, bɔɔ ne mu ase ansa na ɔretena nʼahengua so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa agua mmrɛ ɔhene na, na ɔtenaa ɔhene nifa so.
20Ɔka kyerɛɛ ɔhene se, “Mewɔ ade ketewaa bi srɛ wo, na mfa nkame me.”
Ɔhene no buaa no se, “Ka, me na. Meyɛ ama wo.”
21Enti ɔkae se, “Ma wɔmfa Sunamni Abisag mma wo nuabarima Adoniya aware.”
22Ɔhene Salomo bisaa ne na se, “Adɛn nti na wopɛ sɛ Adoniya ware Sunamni Abisag? Ɛno de, sɛ wubebisa ahemman nso ama no. Wunim sɛ ɔyɛ me nua panyin na ɔsɔfo Abiatar ne Seruia babarima Yoab nso boa no!”
23Na ɔhene Salomo de Awurade din kaa ntam se, “Sɛ Adoniya amfa ne nkwa antwa saa abisade yi so a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no dennen so pa ara. 24Na mprempren de, mmere dodow a Awurade te ase yi, ɔno a watim mʼase wɔ mʼagya Dawid ahengua so, na wabɔ me fie ahenni mu nnidiso atenase ama me, sɛnea ɔhyɛɛ me bɔ no, Adoniya de, twa ara na etwa sɛ owu nnɛ yi ara.” 25Enti, Salomo hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onkum no, na okum Adoniya.
26Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfo Abiatar se, “San kɔ wo kurom Anatot. Wofata sɛ wuwu, nanso merenkum wo mprempren, efisɛ, wosoaa Awurade Tumfo Adaka no maa mʼagya, na wo ne no nyinaa na muhuu amane wɔ nʼabɛbrɛsɛ nyinaa mu.” 27Enti Salomo nam so dii mmara a Awurade hyɛɛ wɔ Silo fa Eli asefo ho no so.
28Ɛwɔ mu, mfiase no na onni Absalom akyi, nanso Yoab de ne ho kɔdɔm Adoniya atuatew no. Bere a Yoab tee Adoniya wu no, otuu mmirika kɔɔ Awurade ntamadan kronkron no mu, na okosusoo mmɛn a etuatua afɔremuka no ho no mu. 29Bere a ɔhene Salomo tee asɛm yi, ɔsomaa Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onkokum no.
30Na Benaia kɔɔ Awurade ntamadan kronkron no mu kɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab se, “Ɔhene se fi adi.”
Nanso Yoab buae se, “Dabi, mewu wɔ ha.”
Enti Benaia san kɔɔ ɔhene no nkyɛn kɔkaa asɛm a Yoab aka no kyerɛɛ no.
31Ɔhene no tee asɛm a Yoab kae no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Benaia se, “Yɛ nea ɔkae no. Kum no wɔ afɔremuka no ho, na sie no. Eyi beyi adwenhare mogyahwiegu ho afɔdi afi me ne mʼagya fifo so. 32Na Awurade betua no kum a okum mmarima atreneefo ankasa baanu a na woye sen no no so ka. Na mʼagya nnim Ner babarima Abner a na ɔyɛ Israel asraafo so sahene ne Yeter babarima Amasa a na ɔno nso yɛ Yuda asraafo so sahene no wu ho hwee. 33Yoab ne nʼasefo de, saa awudi ahorow yi ho afɔdi ntena wɔn so, na Awurade mma Dawid ne nʼasefo ne nʼahengua asomdwoe afebɔɔ!”
34Enti Yehoiada babarima Benaia san kɔɔ ntamadan kronkron no mu, kokum Yoab, na wosiee Yoab2.34 Na wosie nnipa wɔ wɔn ankasa nsase so, efisɛ na ɔman amusiei nni hɔ saa bere no. wɔ ne kurom wuram baabi. 35Na ɔhene no yii Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onsi Yoab anan sɛ ɔsahene. Na oyii ɔsɔfo Sadok de no sii Abiatar anan mu.
36Ɔhene no soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Si ofi wɔ Yerusalem ha na tena mu. Na mfi kurow no mu nkɔ baabiara. 37Na da a wubetwa Kidron bon no, wubewu; na wo mogya begu wʼankasa wo ti so.”
38Na Simei buae se, “Wʼatemmu no yɛ kronkron. Biribiara a me wura ɔhene bɛhyɛ sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.” Enti Simei tenaa Yerusalem kyɛe yiye.
39Na mfe abiɛsa akyi no, Simei asomfo baanu guan kɔɔ Gathene2.39 Gat wɔ Filisti. Akis, Maaka babarima nkyɛn. Bere a Simei huu faako a wɔwɔ no, 40ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafurum, kɔɔ Gat, kɔhwehwɛɛ wɔn. Ohuu wɔn no, ɔde wɔn san baa Yerusalem.
41Salomo tee sɛ Simei afi Yerusalem akɔ Gat asan aba no, 42ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei bae, na obisaa no se, “Mamma woanka ntam Awurade din mu sɛ, worenkɔ baabiara, na sɛ anyɛ saa a, wubewu? Na wubuae se, ‘Atemmu no yɛ kronkron; na medi asɛm a woaka no so.’ 43Adɛn nti na woanni wo ntam no so amma Awurade, na woanyɛ mʼahyɛde?”
44Na ɔhene no ka kaa ho se, “Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ wokae amumɔyɛ a woyɛɛ mʼagya, ɔhene Dawid. Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ ho. 45Na me de, menya Awurade nhyira, na daa Dawid aseni atena ahengua no so.”
46Na ɔhene no hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia ma ɔfaa Simei de no fii adi kokum no.
Enti ahemman no tim wɔ Salomo nsam.
