1 Kings 2: David's Charge to Solomon

Before he dies, David tells Solomon to be strong and to obey God's law. David dies, and Solomon sits on the throne. Solomon deals with men who were against the kingdom, and his kingdom is made firm.

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World English Bible · 46 verses

¹ Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Then Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ “Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist and in his sandals that were on his feet.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ He said moreover, I have something to tell you.” She said, “Say on.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Now I ask one petition of you. Don’t deny me.” She said to him, “Say on.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Bathsheba said, “All right. I will speak for you to the king.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord Yahweh’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to Yahweh’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to Yahweh’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Benaiah came to Yahweh’s Tent, and said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” He said, “No; but I will die here.” Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ So their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don’t go anywhere else.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ For on the day you go out and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ At the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your slaves are in Gath.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his slaves; and Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had come again.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Didn’t I adjure you by Yahweh and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and walk anywhere else, you shall surely die’? You said to me, ‘The saying that I have heard is good.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh and the commandment that I have instructed you with?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to David my father. Therefore Yahweh will return your wickedness on your own head.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will be established before Yahweh forever.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Open Preschool on its own page

1 Kings 2 · Preschool

Be Strong

Name Date

Color the crown and the scroll. David told Solomon to obey God.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.”

1 Kings 2:12 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: David told his son to follow God's ways. We can follow God's ways too.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Kings 2 · Grade 4

Be Strong and Walk in His Ways

Name Date

Read and Think

As David's life came to an end, he spoke to Solomon like a father and a king. He told him to be strong and to keep the instruction of the Lord. Obeying God's law would help Solomon prosper in all he did. David also reminded him of God's promise about the throne.

David asked Solomon to show kindness to Barzillai's family. He also warned him about men who had done great wrong, such as Joab, who had killed two army captains in a time of peace. Then David died after reigning forty years, seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

Solomon soon had to deal with people who still wanted power. Adonijah asked for something that showed he still hoped to be king. Solomon judged him, and also judged Joab and Shimei, who had done wrong. These men were put to death for their wrongs. Abiathar the priest was sent home instead. The chapter ends by saying that the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Show What You Know

What would help Solomon prosper?
Where did David reign?
What happened to Abiathar the priest?
How does the chapter end?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

kingdomSolomonJoabstrongDavid

He told him to be and to keep the instruction of the Lord.
He also warned him about men who had done great wrong, such as , who had killed two army captains in a time of peace.
Then died after reigning forty years, seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
soon had to deal with people who still wanted power.
The chapter ends by saying that the was established in the hand of Solomon.

Think About It

David told Solomon that obeying God was the way to be strong. What is one way you can obey God this week?
Who is an older person who has taught you about God? How can you thank them?

Memory Verse

“Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.”

1 Kings 2:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your good ways. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What did God promise David about his family?
How did Solomon's kingdom become firm?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Kings 2 · Grade 5

A Kingdom Made Firm

Name Date

Read and Think

David's last words to Solomon were a charge. He was going the way of all the earth, so Solomon must be strong. Above all, Solomon must keep God's statutes, commandments, and ordinances as written in the law of Moses. David tied the future of the throne to faithfulness. God had promised that if David's sons walked before Him in truth with all their heart and soul, David would not lack a man on the throne of Israel.

David also passed on unfinished business. He told Solomon to show kindness to Barzillai's sons and to act wisely toward Joab and Shimei, men whose guilt had never been dealt with. After forty years as king, David slept with his fathers and was buried in David's city.

Solomon's reign began with tests. Adonijah asked for Abishag, a request that pointed toward the throne, and Solomon saw it as a new plot. Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood, which fulfilled what God had said about Eli's house. Joab, Adonijah, and Shimei were put to death for their wrongs. In this way, the kingdom was established in Solomon's hand. In the New Testament, Paul gives a similar charge to Timothy: be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1).

Show What You Know

What did David tie the future of the throne to?
Who did David tell Solomon to show kindness to?
How did Solomon see Adonijah's request?
Whose house was God's word fulfilled about when Abiathar was removed?

Crossword

Across

To walk in his ____.
You be ____ therefore.

Down

Solomon sat on ____ his father’s throne.
King ____ sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.
To keep his ____.

Think About It

David said real strength comes from keeping God's word. Where do you need God's strength this week?
Paul told Timothy to be strengthened in grace. How does grace make you strong?

Memory Verse

“Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.”

1 Kings 2:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your good ways. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does it mean to walk before God in truth?
What charge did Paul give to Timothy?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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1 Kings 2: David's Charge to Solomon

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Be Strong

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Obey God

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Walk in God's Ways

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David's Last Words

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A Father's Charge

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Walk in God's Ways

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Be Strong and Walk in His Ways

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A Kingdom Made Firm

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