1 Kings 2:1-12
David's Charge to Solomon
1 When 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, 3 and 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 4 and 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. 6 Deal 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.’ 9 But 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.”
10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
The time came for David to die, so he gave these commands to Solomon, “I am about to die, like all men must...But you are growing stronger and becoming a man...Now, carefully obey all the commands of the LORD your God...Carefully obey all his laws, commands, decisions, and agreements...Obey everything that is written in the Law of Moses...If you do this, you will be successful at whatever you do and wherever you go...And if you obey the LORD, He will keep His promise about Me...He said, ‘If your sons carefully live the way I tell them, sincerely, with all their heart, the king of Israel will always be a man from your family.’”...
David also said, “You remember what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me...He killed two of the commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether...Remember, it was during a time of peace when he spilled the blood that splattered onto his sword belt and army boots...I should have punished him then...Use your wisdom, but don’t let him die peacefully of old age...“Also, be kind to the children of Barzillai from Gilead...Be friends with them, and let them eat at your table, because they helped me when I ran away from your brother Absalom...“And remember, Shimei son of Gera is still around...He is the Benjamite from Bahurim who cursed me when I ran away to Mahanaim...But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I made a promise to him before the LORD that I would not kill him...Now, don’t leave him unpunished...You are a wise man...You will know what you must do, but don’t let him die peacefully of old age.”...
Then David died and rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David...David ruled Israel 40 years...He ruled seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem...