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.
Maagizo Ya Daudi Kwa Solomoni
12:1 2Nya 36:20; Neh 7:6; 11:3; 2Fal 24:16; 25:12; Ezr 5:8; 6:2; Es 1:1; 8:9Siku zilipokaribia za Daudi kufa, akampa mwanawe Solomoni agizo.
22:2 1Nya 3:19; 6:14; Hag 2:4; Zek 3:1-10Akasema, “Mimi ninakaribia kwenda njia ya dunia yote. Hivyo uwe hodari, jionyeshe kuwa mwanaume, 32:3 Ezr 10:25; Neh 3:25shika lile Bwana Mungu wako analokuagiza: Enenda katika njia zake, ushike maagizo na amri zake, sheria zake na kanuni zake, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Sheria ya Mose, ili upate kustawi katika yote ufanyayo na popote uendako, 4ili kwamba Bwana aweze kunitimizia ahadi yake: ‘Kama wazao wako wakiangalia sana wanavyoishi, na kama wakienenda kwa uaminifu mbele zangu kwa mioyo yao yote na kwa roho zao zote, kamwe hutakosa kuwa na mtu kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli.’
52:5 Neh 6:18“Sasa wewe mwenyewe unafahamu lile Yoabu mwana wa Seruya alilonitendea, lile alilofanya kwa majemadari wawili wa majeshi ya Israeli, Abneri mwana wa Neri, na Amasa mwana wa Yetheri. Aliwaua, akimwaga damu yao wakati wa amani kama vile ni kwenye vita, tena akaipaka damu ile kwenye mkanda uliokuwa kiunoni mwake na viatu alivyovaa miguuni mwake. 6Shughulika naye kwa kadiri ya hekima yako, lakini usiache kichwa chake chenye mvi kishukie kaburi kwa amani.
7“Lakini uwaonyeshe wema wana wa Barzilai wa Gileadi na uwaruhusu wawe miongoni mwa wale walao mezani pako. Walisimama nami nilipomkimbia ndugu yako Absalomu.
8“Ukumbuke, unaye Shimei mwana wa Gera, Mbenyamini kutoka Bahurimu, ambaye alinilaani kwa laana kali siku niliyokwenda Mahanaimu. Aliposhuka kunilaki huko Yordani, nilimwapia kwa Bwana: ‘Sitakuua kwa upanga!’ 9Lakini sasa, usidhani kwamba hana hatia. Wewe ni mtu wa hekima, utajua la kumtendea. Zishushe mvi zake kaburini kwa damu.”
10Kisha Daudi akapumzika pamoja na baba zake naye akazikwa katika Mji wa Daudi. 11Daudi alikuwa ametawala juu ya Israeli miaka arobaini: huko Hebroni alitawala miaka saba, na katika Yerusalemu akatawala miaka thelathini na mitatu. 12Kwa hiyo Solomoni akaketi katika kiti cha ufalme cha baba yake Daudi, nao utawala wake ukaimarika sana.
Kiti Cha Ufalme Cha Solomoni Chaimarishwa
132:13 Ezr 8:13; 7:18Basi Adoniya, mwana wa Hagithi, akaenda kwa Bathsheba, mama yake Solomoni. Bathsheba akamuuliza, “Je, umekuja kwa amani?”
Akajibu, “Ndiyo, kwa amani.” 14Kisha akaongeza, “Ninalo jambo la kukuambia.”
Akajibu, “Waweza kulisema.”
15Akasema, “Kama unavyojua, ufalme ulikuwa wangu. Israeli wote waliniangalia mimi kama mfalme wao. Lakini mambo yalibadilika, ufalme umekwenda kwa ndugu yangu, kwa maana umemjia kutoka kwa Bwana. 16Sasa ninalo ombi moja ninalokuomba. Usinikatalie.”
Bathsheba akasema, “Waweza kuliomba.”
17Kwa hiyo akaendelea kusema, “Tafadhali mwombe Mfalme Solomoni, anipatie Abishagi, Mshunami, awe mke wangu; hatakukatalia wewe.”
18Bathsheba akamjibu, “Vema sana, nitazungumza na mfalme kwa ajili yako.”
19Bathsheba alipokwenda kwa Mfalme Solomoni kuzungumza naye kwa ajili ya Adoniya, mfalme alisimama kumlaki mama yake, akamwinamia na kuketi kwenye kiti chake cha ufalme. Akaamuru kiti cha ufalme kuletwa kwa ajili ya mama yake mfalme, naye akaketi mkono wake wa kuume.
202:20 Yos 9:17Bathsheba akamwambia mfalme, “Ninalo ombi moja dogo la kukuomba; usinikatalie.”
Mfalme akajibu, “Omba, mama yangu; sitakukatalia.”
212:21 Mik 5:2; 1Nya 2:51; Rut 1:19; Mt 2:6; 2Sam 21:2; Mwa 35:19Akasema, “Mruhusu Abishagi, Mshunami, aolewe na ndugu yako Adoniya.”
22Mfalme Solomoni akamjibu mama yake, “Kwa nini uombe Abishagi, Mshunami, kwa ajili ya Adoniya? Ungeweza pia kuomba ufalme kwa ajili yake, kwani yeye ni ndugu yangu mkubwa: naam, kwa ajili yake, na kwa kuhani Abiathari na Yoabu mwana wa Seruya!”
23Mfalme Solomoni akaapa kwa Bwana, akasema: “Mungu na aniulie mbali, tena bila huruma, ikiwa Adoniya hatalipa kwa uhai wake kwa ajili ya ombi hili! 24Basi sasa, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, yeye ambaye ameniimarisha salama kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi baba yangu, naye amenipa ufalme wa kudumu kama alivyoahidi, Adoniya atauawa leo!” 25Hivyo Mfalme Solomoni akatoa amri kwa Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada, naye akampiga Adoniya akafa.
262:26 Yos 21:18; 1Sam 22:20; 2Sam 15:14Mfalme akamwambia kuhani Abiathari, “Nenda huko Anathothi katika mashamba yako. Wewe unastahili kufa, lakini sitakuua sasa, kwa sababu ulilichukua Sanduku la Bwana Mwenyezi mbele ya Daudi baba yangu na ulishiriki taabu zote za baba yangu.” 27Hivyo Solomoni akamwondoa Abiathari kwenye ukuhani wa Bwana, akilitimiza neno la Bwana alilokuwa amenena huko Shilo kuhusu nyumba ya Eli.
282:28 Mwa 12:8Habari zilipomfikia Yoabu, ambaye alikuwa amefanya shauri baya na Adoniya, lakini sio na Absalomu, alikimbilia kwenye hema la Bwana na kushika pembe za madhabahu. 29Mfalme Solomoni akaambiwa kuwa Yoabu amekimbilia kwenye hema la Bwana naye alikuwa kando ya madhabahu. Basi Solomoni akamwagiza Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada: “Nenda ukamuue!”
30Ndipo Benaya akaingia kwenye hema la Bwana na kumwambia Yoabu, “Mfalme anasema, ‘Toka nje!’ ”
Lakini akajibu, “La! Nitafia hapa hapa.”
Benaya akamwarifu mfalme, “Hivi ndivyo Yoabu alivyonijibu.”
312:31 Ezr 2:7Kisha mfalme akamwamuru Benaya, “Fanya kama asemavyo. Muue na kumzika, ili uniondolee mimi na nyumba ya baba yangu dhambi ya damu isiyokuwa na hatia ile Yoabu aliyoimwaga. 32Bwana atamlipiza kwa ajili ya damu aliyoimwaga, kwa sababu pasipo Daudi baba yangu kujua, aliwashambulia watu wawili na kuwaua kwa upanga. Wote wawili, Abneri mwana wa Neri, jemadari wa jeshi la Israeli, na Amasa mwana wa Yetheri, jemadari wa jeshi la Yuda, walikuwa watu wazuri na wanyofu kuliko yeye. 33Hatia ya damu yao na iwe juu ya kichwa cha Yoabu na wazao wake milele. Lakini kwa Daudi na uzao wake, nyumba yake na kiti chake cha ufalme, iwepo amani ya Bwana milele.”
342:34 Kum 34:3; 2Nya 28:15; 1Fal 16:34Basi Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada akakwea, akampiga na kumuua Yoabu, naye akazikwa katika nchi yake mwenyewe katika jangwa. 35Mfalme akamweka Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada juu ya jeshi kwenye nafasi ya Yoabu na kumweka kuhani Sadoki badala ya Abiathari.
362:36 1Nya 9:10; 24:7Kisha mfalme akatuma ujumbe kwa Shimei na kumwambia, “Ujijengee nyumba huko Yerusalemu uishi huko, lakini usiende mahali pengine popote. 372:37 1Nya 24:14; Ezr 10:20Siku utakayoondoka kuvuka Bonde la Kidroni, uwe na hakika utakufa; damu yako itakuwa juu ya kichwa chako mwenyewe.”
382:38 1Nya 9:12; Ezr 10:22Shimei akamjibu mfalme, “Ulilolisema ni jema. Mtumishi wako atatenda kama bwana wangu mfalme alivyosema.” Naye Shimei akakaa Yerusalemu kwa muda mrefu.
392:39 1Nya 24:8Lakini baada ya miaka mitatu, watumwa wawili wa Shimei wakatoroka kwenda kwa Akishi mwana wa Maaka, mfalme wa Gathi, naye Shimei akaambiwa, “Watumwa wako wako Gathi.” 402:40 Hes 3:9; Ezr 3:9Kwa ajili ya hili, Shimei akatandika punda wake, akaenda kwa Akishi huko Gathi kuwatafuta watumwa wake. Basi Shimei akaondoka na kuwarudisha watumwa wake kutoka Gathi.
412:41 1Nya 15:16Solomoni alipoambiwa kuwa Shimei ametoka Yerusalemu na kwenda Gathi na amekwisha kurudi, 422:42 1Sam 3:15; 1Nya 9:17mfalme akamwita Shimei na kumwambia, “Je, sikukuapiza kwa Bwana na kukuonya kuwa, ‘Siku utakayoondoka kwenda mahali pengine popote, uwe na hakika utakufa?’ Wakati ule uliniambia, ‘Ulilolisema ni jema. Nitatii!’ 432:43 1Nya 9:2Kwa nini basi hukutunza kiapo chako kwa Bwana na kutii amri niliyokupa?”
44Pia mfalme akamwambia Shimei, “Unajua katika moyo wako makosa uliyomtendea baba yangu Daudi. Sasa Bwana atakulipiza kwa ajili ya mabaya yako uliyotenda. 45Lakini Mfalme Solomoni atabarikiwa, na kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi kitakuwa imara mbele za Bwana milele.”
46Kisha mfalme akatoa amri kwa Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada, naye akatoka nje, akampiga Shimei na kumuua.
Sasa ufalme ukawa umeimarika kikamilifu mikononi mwa Solomoni.
