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.
Davide Alangiza Solomoni
1Davide ali pafupi kumwalira, analangiza mwana wake Solomoni kuti:
2“Ndatsala pangʼono kupita kumene munthu wina aliyense amayenera kupitako. Tsono khala wamphamvu, uvale zilimbe, 3ndipo uzichita zimene Yehova Mulungu wako amafuna, uziyenda mʼnjira zake, uzisunga malangizo ndi malamulo ake monga momwe zinalembedwera mʼMalamulo a Mose, kuti zonse zimene udzachite zidzakuyendere bwino kulikonse kumene udzapite. 4Ndipo Yehova akwaniritse zimene anandilonjeza kuti, ‘Ngati zidzukulu zako zidzakhala mosamala, niziyenda mokhulupirika pamaso panga ndi mtima wawo wonse ndi moyo wawo wonse, sudzasowa munthu wokhala pa mpando waufumu wa Israeli.’
5“Tsono iwe ukudziwanso zoyipa zimene Yowabu mwana wa Zeruya anandichitira pakupha atsogoleri awiri a ankhondo a Israeli, Abineri mwana wa Neri ndi Amasa mwana wa Yeteri. Iye anawapha ndi kukhetsa magazi nthawi ya mtendere ngati nthawi ya nkhondo, ndipo anapaka magazi amenewo pa lamba wa mʼchiwuno mwake ndi pa nsapato za ku mapazi ake. 6Iwe uchite kwa iye molingana ndi nzeru zako, koma usalole kuti afe ndi ukalamba ndi kupita ku manda mwamtendere.
7“Koma ana a Barizilai wa ku Giliyadi uwakomere mtima ndipo uwalole kuti akhale mʼgulu la anthu amene azidya pamodzi nawe. Pakuti anandisamalira pamene ndinkathawa mʼbale wako Abisalomu.
8“Ndipo kumbukira kuti uli ndi Simei mwana wa Gera, wa fuko la Benjamini wochokera ku Bahurimu, amene ananditemberera koopsa tsiku limene ndimapita ku Mahanaimu. Atabwera kudzakumana nane ku Yorodani, ine ndinalumbira mʼdzina la Yehova kuti, ‘Sindidzakupha iwe ndi lupanga.’ 9Koma tsopano usamuyese ngati munthu wosalakwa. Iwe ndiwe munthu wanzeru. Udzadziwa choti uchite naye. Ngakhale ndi wokalamba, aphedwe ndithu.”
10Tsono Davide anamwalira ndipo anayikidwa mʼmanda mu Mzinda wa Davide. 11Iyeyo nʼkuti atalamulira Israeli kwa zaka makumi anayi. Ku Hebroni analamulira zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri ndipo ku Yerusalemu analamulira zaka 33. 12Choncho Solomoni anakhala pa mpando waufumu wa abambo ake Davide, ndipo ufumu wake unakhazikika kwambiri.
Kukhazikika kwa Ufumu wa Solomoni
13Tsono Adoniya, mwana wa Hagiti, anapita kwa Batiseba, amayi ake a Solomoni. Batiseba anamufunsa kuti, “Kodi wabwera mwamtendere?”
Iye anayakha kuti, “Eya, ndi zamtendere.” 14Ndipo iye anawonjezera kunena kuti, “Ndili ndi mawu oti ndiyankhule nanu.”
Batiseba anayankha kuti, “Yankhula.”
15Tsono Adoniya anati, “Monga inu mukudziwa, ufumu unali wanga. Aisraeli onse ankayembekezera kuti ine ndidzakhala mfumu yawo. Koma zinthu zinasintha ndipo ufumu wapita kwa mʼbale wanga; pakuti wapatsa iye ufumuwu ndi Yehova. 16Tsono ndili ndi pempho limodzi kwa inu. Musandikanize ayi.”
Batiseba anati, “Nena.”
17Adoniya anapitiriza kunena kuti, “Chonde, inu mupemphe mfumu Solomoni kuti andipatse Abisagi wa ku Sunemu kuti akhale mkazi wanga pakuti mukapempha inu sadzakukanizani.”
18Batiseba anayankha kuti, “Chabwino. Ndidzakuyankhulira kwa mfumu.”
19Batiseba atapita kwa Mfumu Solomoni kukayankhula naye mʼmalo mwa Adoniya, mfumu inanyamuka kukumana naye, ndipo inaweramira amayi akewo, kenaka inakhala pa mpando wake waufumu. Iye anayitanitsa mpando wina kuti amayi ake akhalepo ndipo anakhala pansi ku dzanja lake lamanja.
20Amayi akewo anati, “Ndikufuna ndikupempheni kanthu kakangʼono. Chonde musandikanize.”
Mfumu inayankha kuti, “Pemphani amayi, ine sindikukanizani.”
21Ndipo amayiwo anati, “Mulole kuti Abisagi wa ku Sunemu akhale mkazi wa mʼbale wanu Adoniya.”
22Koma Mfumu Solomoni inayankha amayi ake aja kuti, “Chifukwa chiyani mukupemphera Adoniya Abisagi wa ku Sunemu? Mungathenso kumupemphera ufumu pakuti iyeyu ndi mkulu wanga ndipo mupemphereninso wansembe Abiatara ndi Yowabu mwana wa Zeruya!”
23Pamenepo Mfumu Solomoni inalumbira mʼdzina la Yehova kuti, “Mulungu andilange ine koopsa ngati Adoniya saphedwa chifukwa cha pempho lakeli! 24Tsono pali Yehova wamoyo, amene anandikhazikitsa ine pa mpando waufumu wa abambo anga Davide ndi kundipatsa ufumu monga analonjezera, Adoniya aphedwa lero lomwe lino!” 25Choncho Mfumu Solomoni inalamula Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada ndipo anakantha Adoniyayo, nafa.
26Ndipo mfumu inati kwa Abiatara wansembe, “Pita ku Anatoti ku minda yako chifukwa ndiwe woyenera kufa, koma sindikupha tsopano, chifukwa unkanyamula Bokosi la Chipangano la Ambuye Yehova pamaso pa abambo anga Davide ndipo unazunzika limodzi ndi abambo angawo.” 27Kotero Solomoni anachotsa Abiatara pa udindo wokhala wansembe wa Yehova, kukwaniritsa mawu a Yehova amene anayankhula za nyumba ya Eli ku Silo.
28Yowabu atamva zimenezi anathawira ku tenti ya Yehova ndipo anakagwira msonga za guwa lansembe, popeza Yowabu ndiye anathandiza Adoniya kuwukira koma sanathandize Abisalomu. 29Mfumu Solomoni inawuzidwa kuti Yowabu wathawira ku tenti ya Yehova ndipo ali pambali pa guwa lansembe. Tsono Solomoni analamula Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada kuti, “Pita, kamukanthe!”
30Choncho Benaya analowa mʼtenti ya Yehova ndipo anati kwa Yowabu, “Mfumu ikuti ‘Tuluka!’ ”
Koma iye anayankha kuti, “Ayi, ine ndifera muno.”
Benaya anakafotokozera mfumu kuti, “Umu ndi mmene Yowabu wandiyankhira.”
31Pamenepo mfumu inalamula Benaya kuti, “Kachite monga iye wanenera. Ukamukanthe ndi kumuyika mʼmanda. Ukatero udzandichotsera ine pamodzi ndi nyumba ya abambo anga mlandu wa anthu osalakwa amene Yowabu anawapha. 32Yehova adzamubwezera zomwe anachita pokhetsa magazi, chifukwa iye anakantha ndi lupanga anthu awiri abwino ndi olungama kuposa iye, nawapha, abambo anga Davide osadziwa. Anthu awiriwo ndi Abineri mwana wa Neri, wolamulira gulu lankhondo la Israeli ndi Amasa mwana wa Yeteri, wolamulira gulu lankhondo la Yuda. 33Magazi amene Yowabu anakhetsa akhale pamutu pake ndi pa zidzukulu zake kwamuyaya. Koma pa Davide ndi zidzukulu zake, nyumba yake ndi mpando wake waufumu pakhale mtendere wochokera kwa Yehova kwamuyaya.”
34Choncho Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada anapita kukakantha Yowabu nʼkumupha ndipo anayikidwa mʼmanda mʼnyumba yakeyake ya ku chipululu. 35Mfumu inayika Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada kuti akhale woyangʼanira gulu lankhondo mʼmalo mwa Yowabu ndipo inayika Zadoki kuti akhale wansembe mʼmalo mwa Abiatara.
36Kenaka mfumu inatuma anthu kukayitana Simei ndipo inamuwuza kuti, “Udzimangire nyumba mu Yerusalemu ndipo uzikhala kumeneko, koma usatuluke mu mzinda kupita kwina kulikonse. 37Tsiku lomwe udzatulukemo ndi kuwoloka Chigwa cha Kidroni, udziwiretu kuti udzafa ndipo magazi ako adzakhala pamutu pako.”
38Simei anayankha mfumu kuti, “Zimene mwanenazi nʼzabwino. Kapolo wanu adzachita monga mbuye wanga mfumu mwanenera.” Choncho Simei anakhala mu Yerusalemu nthawi yayitali.
39Koma patatha zaka zitatu, akapolo awiri a Simei anathawira kwa Akisi mwana wa Maaka, mfumu ya ku Gati, ndipo Simei anawuzidwa kuti, “Akapolo anu ali ku Gati.” 40Atamva zimenezi, anakwera bulu wake ndipo anapita kwa Akisi ku Gati kukafunafuna akapolo ake. Choncho Simei anapita ndi kukatenga akapolo ake ku Gati ndipo anabwera nawo.
41Solomoni atawuzidwa kuti Simei anatuluka mu Yerusalemu ndi kupita ku Gati ndipo kuti wabwerako, 42mfumu inamuyitanitsa Simei ndipo inamufunsa kuti, “Kodi sindinakulumbiritse mʼdzina la Yehova ndi kukuchenjeza kuti, ‘Tsiku limene udzatuluka kupita kwina kulikonse, udziwe kuti udzafa’? Nthawi imeneyo iwe unandiwuza kuti, ‘Zimene mwanena nʼzabwino. Ine ndidzamvera.’ 43Chifukwa chiyani tsono sunasunge lumbiro lako kwa Yehova? Bwanji nanga sunamvere lamulo limene ndinakuwuza?”
44Mfumuyo inawuzanso Simei kuti, “Ukudziwa mu mtima mwakomo zoyipa zonse zimene unachitira abambo anga Davide. Tsopano Yehova akubwezera zoyipa zakozo. 45Koma Mfumu Solomoni idzadalitsidwa ndipo mpando waufumu wa Davide udzakhazikika pamaso pa Yehova kwamuyaya.”
46Pamenepo mfumu inalamula Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada ndipo iye anapita kukakantha Simei ndi kumupha.
Tsono ufumu unakhazikika mʼdzanja la Solomoni.
