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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 2
David charges Solomon to keep the commandments and walk in the ways of the
Lord—King David dies and Solomon reigns—Adonijah and Joab and
Shimei are put to death, and Abiathar rejected as high priest—The
kingdom is established with Solomon.
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1 NOW the days of
David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged aSolomon
his son, saying,
2 I go the away of all the earth: be
thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a bman;
3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to
awalk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his
bcommandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as
it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest
cprosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou
turnest thyself:
4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake
concerning me, saying, If thy achildren take
bheed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all
their cheart and with all their soul, there shall not fail
thee (said he) a man on the dthrone of Israel.
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5a
1 Kgs 9:2
b
1 Kgs 11:9;
2 Chr. 1:7 (7-12)
D&C 110:8 (7-8)
c
TG
Dreams
7a
1 Chr. 22:5;
1 Chr. 29:1
3 Ne. 9:22;
3 Ne. 11:37-38;
8a
2 Sam. 7:23
b
Gen. 13:16;
Abr. 3;14
9a
TG
Understanding
b
TG
Heart
c
TG
Discernment, Spiritual
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5 Moreover thou knowest also what
aJoab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did
to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto bAbner the
son of Ner, and unto cAmasa the son of Jether, whom he
slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his
girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on
his feet.
6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let
not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
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5a
1 Kgs 9:2
b
1 Kgs 11:9;
2 Chr. 1:7 (7-12)
D&C 110:8 (7-8)
c
TG
Dreams
7a
1 Chr. 22:5;
1 Chr. 29:1
3 Ne. 9:22;
3 Ne. 11:37-38;
8a
2 Sam. 7:23
b
Gen. 13:16;
Abr. 3;14
9a
TG
Understanding
b
TG
Heart
c
TG
Discernment, Spiritual
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7 But shew kindness unto the sons of
aBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat
at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy
brother.
8 And, behold, thou hast with thee
aShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which
cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he
came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I
will not put thee to death with the sword.
9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou
art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but
his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
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5a
1 Kgs 9:2
b
1 Kgs 11:9;
2 Chr. 1:7 (7-12)
D&C 110:8 (7-8)
c
TG
Dreams
7a
1 Chr. 22:5;
1 Chr. 29:1
3 Ne. 9:22;
3 Ne. 11:37-38;
8a
2 Sam. 7:23
b
Gen. 13:16;
Abr. 3;14
9a
TG
Understanding
b
TG
Heart
c
TG
Discernment, Spiritual
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10 So David slept with his fathers, and was
aburied in the bcity of David.
11 And the days that David areigned
over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and
thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
12 ¶ Then sat aSolomon upon the
throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
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5a
1 Kgs 9:2
b
1 Kgs 11:9;
2 Chr. 1:7 (7-12)
D&C 110:8 (7-8)
c
TG
Dreams
7a
1 Chr. 22:5;
1 Chr. 29:1
3 Ne. 9:22;
3 Ne. 11:37-38;
8a
2 Sam. 7:23
b
Gen. 13:16;
Abr. 3;14
9a
TG
Understanding
b
TG
Heart
c
TG
Discernment, Spiritual
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The Flame of Conspiracy Dieth Not Out
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13 ¶ And Adonijah the son of Haggith came
to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou
peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say
unto thee. And she said, Say on.
15 And he said, Thou knowest that the
akingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their
faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is
become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
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16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me
not. And she said unto him, Say on.
17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the
king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me
aAbishag the Shunammite to
wifea.
18 And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for
thee unto the king.
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17a give me Abishag the Shunammite to
wife In this was the flame of conspiracy being refueled. For
indeed, this Abishag was a significant player. She had been brought in to
give seed to King David in his dying days, so that an unblemished heir might
be raised up. But it would be a child heir who would be easily manipulated by
the powers about, Joab, Shimei and Adonijah; not to mention Abiathar. And in
Adonijah taking her to wife and having a son by her, those from whence she
had come, likely Gath, would then be made allies unto Adonijah's cause
against Solomon. But in this thing Adonijah had let slip his hand for Solomon
immediately recognized the intent in it was not just a marriage to a
beautiful virgin, but in it were the works to the obtaining the kingdom from
the hand of Solomon.
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19 ¶ Bath-sheba therefore went unto king
Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet
her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a
seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of
thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask
on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be
given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
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22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his
mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask
for him the kingdom alsoa; for he
is mine elder abrother;
even for him, and for bAbiathar the priest, and for Joab
the son of Zeruiah.
23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD,
saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken
this word against his own
lifea.
24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which
hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who
hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to
adeath this day.
25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of
aBenaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he
died.
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22a why dost thou ask Abishag the
Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also Solomon here
immediately preceives the significance of the requested marriage between the
last of King David's politically arranged wifes. If the aged David had been
able to father a son by her, he would have been the 'unblemished' heir to
the throne of David to be held up and supportted as a young puppet king per
the intent of others. Adonijah now sought this alliance in that same
marriage, still seeking the crown of David in it. Thus Solomon stated that if
one would give Adonijah Abishag to wife, one might as well as given him the
kingdom also, for that was the intent in it.
23a if Adonijah have not spoken this
word against his own life Solomon had stated to Adonijah that he
would not harm a hair of his head 'if' he would 'shew' himself worthy. But
here Adonijah had played his hand, not showing himself worthy but to be
continued in that wickedness of intent against Solomon. The pure reason
behind Adonijah's request was a part of a continuing conspiracy to obtain
the thone of David. It was still being hatched witht he other conpirators.
Joab would be the next to so tip his hand by his next obvious actions
proclaiming his self guilt in the matter.
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5a
1 Kgs 9:2
b
1 Kgs 11:9;
2 Chr. 1:7 (7-12)
D&C 110:8 (7-8)
c
TG
Dreams
7a
1 Chr. 22:5;
1 Chr. 29:1
3 Ne. 9:22;
3 Ne. 11:37-38;
8a
2 Sam. 7:23
b
Gen. 13:16;
Abr. 3;14
9a
TG
Understanding
b
TG
Heart
c
TG
Discernment, Spiritual
Ask for Him
the Kingdom Also
Needful to point out is that Absalom had made it a
point to so display his taking of the kingdom of David by his going in unto
all his father's wives and concubines (2 Samuel 16:20-23). And so it was with
Adonijah, for his intent with Abishag, his father's last wife/concubine. He
would show before Israel that it was he, Adonijah who took the king's queen,
that last arranged queen unto the raising up royal seed to the crown of
Israel. And not only that, but by the very roots of the comspiracy, which
Solomon had dedicted, it was to be that confirmation of that alliance which
had been so struck of offering Abishag to king David in the first place, and
that was unto the bring of the kingdoms of the Philistines and Israel together
upon the throne of David. Thus it was well said by Solomon, that if one
would ask to give the Abishag, last queen of David, unto Adonijah, one might
as well have asked to do give the kingdom also unto Adonijah.
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Abiathar the Priest Tips His Hand As Part of the
Conspiracy
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26 ¶ And unto aAbiathar the
priest said the king, Get thee to aAnathoth, unto thine own
fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put
thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my
father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was
afflicted.
27 So Solomon thrust out aAbiathar
from being priest unto the LORD; that he might bfulfil the
word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
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Joab Displays His Guilt in the Whole of the Matter
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28 ¶ Then tidings came to aJoab:
for Joab had turned after
bAdonijaha,
though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of
the LORD, and caught hold on the chorns of the
altarb.
29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was
fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar.
Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon
him.
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28a Joab had turned after
Adonijah Joab had continued to be a part of the continuing
conspiracy and was privy to the plot to have Adonijah marry Abishag the
Shunammite to unite the powers of the Philistines with Adonijah, Joab and
Shimei to the over throw of Solomon as king of Israel.
28b Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the
LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar This is the exact
reaction which the guilt of Adonijah had resorted to, being driven to it
by his guilt when he first thought that Solomon was going to kill him because
of his usurption to the kingdom over and against Solomon. It is of interest
to note that Joab, because of his deep quilt in the matter, presumes that
Solomon knows of it and is seeking after him just as he had already dealt
with Adonijah and Abiathar the priest. When you are next in line of the
group of conspirators, one often jumps right in to the fire of it out of
one's own guilt in the matter as does Joab here in this case. He knows in his
mind of guilt that he has been found out.
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30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the
LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay;
but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus
said Joab, and thus he answered me.
31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said,
and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the
ainnocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the
house of my father.
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32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own
head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them
with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit,
aAbner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and
Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head
of aJoab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon
David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall
there be peace for ever from the LORD.
34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and
fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the
wilderness.
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Shimei, the Last to Fall
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35 ¶ And the king put aBenaiah
the son of Jehoiada in his room over the bhost: and
cZadok the dpriest did the king put in
the room of Abiathar.
36 ¶ And the king sent and called for
aShimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in
Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
37 For it shall be, that on the day thou
goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain
that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
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38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying
is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And
Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
39 And it came to pass at the end of three
years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of
Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants
be in Gath.
40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and
went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought
his servants from Gath.
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41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had
gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said
unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and
aprotested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the
day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely
die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is
good.
43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the
LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
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44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest
all the awickedness which thine heart bis
privy toa, that thou didst to David
my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own
head;
45 And king Solomon shall be blessed,
and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada;
which went out, and fell upon him, that he adied. And the
kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
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44a Thou knowest all the wickedness
which thine heart is privy to Shimei was member with the
conspirators, but he had played it cool to not incriminate himself outwardly.
He understood Solomon's restriction upon him to not go out to Gath to the
Philistines, the outside allies in the matter, and he had agreed to not ever
be found going out to Gath. It is on that simple outward act which Shimei is
finally put to death. In itself it might seem a bit unfair, but certainly as
Solomon so states, the mountain of private wickedness within Shimei's heart
did speak volumes in justification against him in the matter of his death.
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