Solomon's Reign Established

1 Kings 2

13 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, z "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably." 14 Moreover he said, "I have something to say to you." And she said, "Say it." 15 Then he said, "You know that the kingdom was a mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother's; for b it was his from the LORD. 16 "Now I ask one petition of you; do not 1 deny me." And she said to him, "Say it." 17 Then he said, "Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me c Abishag the Shunammite as wife." 18 So Bathsheba said, "Very well, I will speak for you to the king."

19 Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and d bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king's mother; e so she sat at his right hand. 20 Then she said, "I desire one small petition of you; do not 2 refuse me." And the king said to her, "Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you." 21 So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife." 22 And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also - for he is my f older brother - for him, and for g Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah." 23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, h "May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life! 24 "Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a 3 house for me, as He i promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!" 25 So King Solomon sent by the hand of j Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.

26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to k Anathoth, to your own fields, for 4 you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, l because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted." 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might m fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.

28 Then news came to Joab, for Joab n had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and o took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And King Solomon was told, "Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; there he is, by the altar." Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, p strike him down." 30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, "Thus says the king, q 'Come out!' " And he said, "No, but I will die here." And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." 31 Then the king said to him, r "Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, s that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. 32 "So the LORD t will return his 5 blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous u and better than he, and killed them with the sword - v Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and w Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah - though my father David did not know it. 33 "Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and x upon the head of his descendants forever. y But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD." 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put z Zadok the priest in the place of a Abiathar.

36 Then the king sent and called for b Shimei, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. 37 "For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross c the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; d your 6 blood shall be on your own head." 38 And Shimei said to the king, "The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39 Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to e Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, "Look, your slaves are in Gath!" 40 So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. 42 Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die'? And you said to me, 'The word I have heard is good.' 43 "Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I gave you?" 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, "You know, as your heart acknowledges, f all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will g return your wickedness on your own head. 45 "But King Solomon shall be blessed, and h the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever."

46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the i kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:4
    So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?
    1 Samuel 16:5
    And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:11
    So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it?
    1 Kings 1:18
    So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it.
  3. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 22:9
    Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
    1 Chronicles 22:10
    'He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
    1 Chronicles 28:5 - 7
    And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
    Daniel 2:21
    And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
  4. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:3
    So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
    1 Kings 1:4
    The young woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 45:9
    Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
  7. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:6
    (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)
    1 Kings 2:15
    Then he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD.
    1 Chronicles 3:2
    The third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith.
    1 Chronicles 3:5
    And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon - four by Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel.
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:7
    Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
  9. Cross References
    Ruth 1:17
    Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.
  10. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:11
    Since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.
    2 Samuel 7:13
    He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
    1 Chronicles 22:10
    'He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
  11. Cross References
    2 Samuel 8:18
    Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.
    1 Kings 4:4
    Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests.
  12. Cross References
    Joshua 21:18
    Anathoth with its common-land, and Almon with its common-land: four cities.
    Jeremiah 1:1
    The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 22:23
    "Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."
    1 Samuel 23:6
    Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.
    2 Samuel 15:14
    So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.
    2 Samuel 15:29
    Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:31 - 35
    Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
  15. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:7
    Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:50
    Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
  17. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:5
    Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet.
    1 Kings 2:6
    Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 21:14
    But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 21:14
    But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.
  20. Cross References
    Numbers 35:33
    So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
    Deuteronomy 19:13
    Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.
    Deuteronomy 21:8
    Provide atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not lay innocent blood to the charge of Your people Israel.' And atonement shall be provided on their behalf for the blood.
    Deuteronomy 21:9
    So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 9:6
    Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
    Judges 9:24
    That the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.
    Judges 9:57
    And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
  22. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 21:13
    But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father's household, who were better than yourself.
    2 Chronicles 21:14
    Behold, the LORD will strike your people with a serious affliction - your children, your wives, and all your possessions.
  23. Cross References
    2 Samuel 3:27
    Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
  24. Cross References
    2 Samuel 20:9
    Then Joab said to Amasa, " Are you in health, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
    2 Samuel 20:10
    But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab's hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
  25. Cross References
    2 Samuel 3:29
    "Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."
  26. Cross References
    Proverbs 25:5
    Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
  27. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:35
    Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.
    1 Kings 4:4
    Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests.
    1 Chronicles 6:53
    Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.
    1 Chronicles 24:3
    Then David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service.
    1 Chronicles 29:22
    So they ate and drank before the LORD with great gladness on that day. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before the LORD to be the leader, and Zadok to be priest.
  28. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:27
    So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.
  29. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:5 - 13
    Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
    1 Kings 2:8
    "And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious 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 the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'
  30. Cross References
    2 Samuel 15:23
    And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
    2 Kings 23:6
    And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves of the common people.
    John 18:1
    When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
  31. Cross References
    Leviticus 20:9
    For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.
    Joshua 2:19
    So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
    2 Samuel 1:16
    So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'
    Ezekiel 18:13
    If he has exacted usury Or taken increase - Shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, He shall surely die; His blood shall be upon him.
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 27:2
    Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
  33. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:5 - 13
    Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
  34. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:39
    So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
    2 Kings 11:1
    When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs.
    2 Kings 11:12 - 16
    And he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!
    Psalms 7:16
    His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
    Ezekiel 17:19
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: " As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head.
  35. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:13
    He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
    Proverbs 25:5
    Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
  36. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:12
    Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.
    2 Chronicles 1:1
    Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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