1 Kings 2
I've commented before that some characters in the Bible seem to hang on and on - I thought we had king David's last words at the end of the last book - but here he asks his successor Solomon to settle some scores.
His speech started with advice to walk in the way of God and to honour and observe the laws of God.with a promise that if Solomon and his descendants follow the way of God then the kingdom and dynasty of David would last for a very long time.
I thought that David did not hold a grudge but it seems that in fact David really has not forgotten or forgiven various people.
David asks Solomon to deal with several people including
Joab - former commander of the army, who had killed Abner (former commander of Saul's army) and Amasa (former commander of Absalom's army) both of whom had sworn peace with David.
The sons of Barzillai from Gilead however, are to be treated with kindness as he showed kindness to David.
Shimei - relative of Saul who cursed David as he fled from Absalom, David promised that he would not hurt him, but now he asked Solomon to take his revenge against him,
David died and is buried in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile Solomon has become king and taken the throne.
Adonijah (Solomon's elder brother) went to Bathsheba (Solomon's mother) to ask her to appeal to Solomon that he be given Abishag (David's virgin hot water bottle - see yesterdays post) as his wife.
When Bathsheba asked Solomon on behalf of Adonijah, Solomon went ballistic - by trying to marry David's concubine, and as the elder brother to the king he would be able to mount some kind of coup later.
Solomon ordered a death sentence on his elder brother and Benaiah struck him down.
Solomon also removed Abiathar the priest from his position as he had sided with Adonijah, he would not kill him as he was a priest.
Joab got word that his name was on a death list and ran for sanctuary taking hold of the horns of the alter and refusing to come out.
Following a repeated order from the king, he is killed still right at the side of the alter.
Shimei is told to build a house in Jerusalem and live there as a city of refuge, but should he leave he would become a legitimate target.
Some time later a slave ran away and Shimei chased him, which led to Solomon bringing down the revenge of David on him.
So David has died after 40 years as king and now Israel starts what is generally referred to as the golden age.
I've commented before that some characters in the Bible seem to hang on and on - I thought we had king David's last words at the end of the last book - but here he asks his successor Solomon to settle some scores.
His speech started with advice to walk in the way of God and to honour and observe the laws of God.with a promise that if Solomon and his descendants follow the way of God then the kingdom and dynasty of David would last for a very long time.
I thought that David did not hold a grudge but it seems that in fact David really has not forgotten or forgiven various people.
David asks Solomon to deal with several people including
Joab - former commander of the army, who had killed Abner (former commander of Saul's army) and Amasa (former commander of Absalom's army) both of whom had sworn peace with David.
The sons of Barzillai from Gilead however, are to be treated with kindness as he showed kindness to David.
Shimei - relative of Saul who cursed David as he fled from Absalom, David promised that he would not hurt him, but now he asked Solomon to take his revenge against him,
David died and is buried in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile Solomon has become king and taken the throne.
Adonijah (Solomon's elder brother) went to Bathsheba (Solomon's mother) to ask her to appeal to Solomon that he be given Abishag (David's virgin hot water bottle - see yesterdays post) as his wife.
When Bathsheba asked Solomon on behalf of Adonijah, Solomon went ballistic - by trying to marry David's concubine, and as the elder brother to the king he would be able to mount some kind of coup later.
Solomon ordered a death sentence on his elder brother and Benaiah struck him down.
Solomon also removed Abiathar the priest from his position as he had sided with Adonijah, he would not kill him as he was a priest.
Joab got word that his name was on a death list and ran for sanctuary taking hold of the horns of the alter and refusing to come out.
Following a repeated order from the king, he is killed still right at the side of the alter.
Shimei is told to build a house in Jerusalem and live there as a city of refuge, but should he leave he would become a legitimate target.
Some time later a slave ran away and Shimei chased him, which led to Solomon bringing down the revenge of David on him.
So David has died after 40 years as king and now Israel starts what is generally referred to as the golden age.
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