1Now as the time of David’s death approached, he charged Solomon, his son, by saying, 2“I am going where everyone on earth must go; therefore, be strong and show yourself a man. 3And observe what the LORD your God requires: to walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn: 4And that the LORD may keep His promise which He made to me: ‘If your children watch how they live, and walk faithfully before Me in truth with all their heart and all their soul, you shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 5Now you also know what Joab, son of Zeruiah, did to me (David), and what he did to the two commanders of the army of Israel - Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether, whom he murdered, shedding the blood of war in peace, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist, and the shoes on his feet. 6Therefore, deal with him according to your wisdom; but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7But do show kindness to the sons of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for they came to my aid when I fled from Absalom, your brother. 8And remember that you have among you Shimei, son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on that day when I fled to Mahanaim. Afterward, he came to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD that I would not put him to death with the sword. 9But now, do not regard him as innocent; for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do to bring his gray head to the grave with blood.”

10So then David died, and was buried in the city of David. 11And David reigned over Israel for forty years - seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. 12And so Solomon sat upon the throne of David, his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

13And then Adonijah, son of Haggith, came to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. And she asked, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably.” 14Then he added, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Say on.” 15And he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel looked to me as their king. But now, the kingdom has become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD. 16And now I ask one petition of you, do not deny me.” And she said, “Say on.” 17And he said, “Please speak to King Solomon (for he will not refuse you), and ask him to give me Abishag, the Shunammite, in marriage.” 18And she said, “Very well; I will speak to the king for you.”

19Then Bathsheba went to speak to King Solomon for Adonijah. And the king arose to meet her, bowed to her, sat down on his throne, and had a seat brought for Bathsheba, his mother; and she sat on his right hand. 20Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; please do not refuse me.” And the king said, “Ask on, my mother; for I will not refuse you.” 21And she said, “Let Abishag, the Shunammite, be given to Adonijah, your brother, in marriage.” 22And King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag, the Shunammite, for Adonijah? You might just as well ask the kingdom for him. You know that he is my elder brother; and both Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, son of Zeruiah are his supporters!” 23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his own life for asking this thing. 24Now, as surely as the LORD lives, Who has established me, and set me on the throne of David, my father, and Who has founded a dynasty for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25And so King Solomon sent orders to Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute Adonijah; and he struck him so that he died.

26And Solomon told Abiathar, the priest, “Get yourself to Anathoth, to your own fields. You deserve to die; but I will not at this time put you to death, because you did bear the ark of the LORD God before David, my father, and because you have shared in all the hardships that my father endured.” 27So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD; fulfilling the word of the LORD, which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh (I Sam. 2:27-31).

28When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah - though he had not done so for Absalom - Joab fled to the Tabernacle of the LORD, and grasped the horns of the altar. 29And King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the Tabernacle of the LORD; and was by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute Joab. 30And Benaiah came to the Tabernacle of the LORD, and said to Joab, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out.’” But Joab said, “No; I will die here.” And Benaiah brought that word to the king. 31And the king said to him, “Do as he says. Go, slay him there, and bury him; and that will clear the guilt of the senseless murders and innocent blood which Joab shed - from both me, and from the house of my father. 32The LORD shall repay him for the blood of two men more righteous and better than he, that he killed with the sword, without my father David knowing of it: Abner, son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33May the guilt of their blood rest upon the head of Joab, and the heads of his descendants forever; but upon David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, may there be peace from the LORD forever.” 34So Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, went, struck, and killed Joab; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35And King Solomon appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to replace him as commander of the army; and Zadok, the priest, replaced Abiathar.

36And then the king sent for Shimei, and told him, “Build a house in Jerusalem, and stay there, and do not leave there. 37For on the day you leave, and cross over the brook Kidron, you shall know for certain that you shall surely die; and your blood shall be upon your own head.” 38And Shimei said to the king, “What you have said is good; I will do so.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem a long time. 39But then, after three years, two of his slaves ran away to Achish, of Maachah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40And so Shimei saddled his donkey, and went to Achish, to bring his slaves back from Gath. 41And Solomon was told that Shimei had left Jerusalem for Gath, and had returned. 42And Solomon summoned Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, that on the day you go anywhere else, you shall surely die? And you told me, ‘What I have heard is good. I will do as you say.’ 43Why, then, have you not kept your oath to the LORD, and obeyed what I commanded you?” 44Then Solomon added, “You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to David, my father. Now the LORD shall return your wickedness upon your own head; 45And King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.” 46So the king ordered Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to strike him down, and he died. And the kingdom was firmly established in the hands of Solomon.