David's Instructions to Solomon
1 Not long before David died, he told Solomon:
2 My son, I will soon die, as everyone must. But I want you to be strong and brave. 3 Do what the Lord your God commands and follow his teachings. Obey everything written in the Law of Moses. Then you will be a success, no matter what you do or where you go. 4 You and your descendants must always faithfully obey the Lord. If you do, he will keep the solemn promise he made to me that someone from our family will always be king of Israel.
5 Solomon, don't forget what Joab did to me by killing Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of Israel's army. He killed them as if they were his enemies in a war, but he did it when there was no war. He is guilty, and now it's up to you to punish him 6 in the way you think best. Whatever you do, don't let him die peacefully in his old age.
7 The sons of Barzillai from Gilead helped me when I was running from your brother Absalom. Be kind to them and let them eat at your table.
8 Be sure to do something about Shimei son of Gera from Bahurim in the territory of Benjamin. He cursed and insulted me the day I went to Mahanaim. But later, when he came to meet me at the Jordan River, I promised that I wouldn't kill him. 9 Now you must punish him. He's an old man, but you're wise enough to know that you must have him killed.
David Dies
10-11 David was king of Israel 40 years. He ruled 7 years from Hebron and 33 years from Jerusalem. Then he died and was buried in Jerusalem. 12 His son Solomon became king and took control of David's kingdom.
Adonijah Is Killed
13 One day, Adonijah went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and she asked, “Is this a friendly visit?”
“Yes. 14 I just want to talk with you.”
“All right,” she told him, “go ahead.”
15 “You know that I was king for a little while,” Adonijah replied. “And everyone in Israel accepted me as their ruler. But the Lord wanted my brother to be king, so now things have changed. 16 Would you do me a favor?”
“What do you want?” Bathsheba asked.
17 “Please ask Solomon to let me marry Abishag. He won't say no to you.”
18 “All right,” she said. “I'll ask him.”
19 When Bathsheba went to see Solomon, he stood up to meet her, then bowed low. He sat back down and had another throne brought in, so his mother could sit at his right side. 20 Bathsheba sat down and then asked, “Would you do me a small favor?”
Solomon replied, “Mother, just tell me what you want, and I will do it.”
21 “Allow your brother Adonijah to marry Abishag,” she answered.
22 Solomon said:
What? Let my older brother marry Abishag? You may as well ask me to let him rule the kingdom! And why don't you ask such favors for Abiathar and Joab?
23 I swear in the name of the Lord that Adonijah will die because he asked for this! If he doesn't, I pray that God will severely punish me. 24 The Lord made me king in my father's place and promised that the kings of Israel would come from my family. Yes, I swear by the living Lord that Adonijah will die today.
25 “Benaiah,” Solomon shouted, “go kill Adonijah.” So Adonijah died.
Abiathar Is Sent Back Home
26 Solomon sent for Abiathar the priest and said:
Abiathar, go back home to Anathoth! You ought to be killed too, but I won't do it now. When my father David was king, you were in charge of the sacred chest, and you went through a lot of hard times with my father. 27 But I won't let you be a priest of the Lord anymore.
And so the promise that the Lord had made at Shiloh about the family of Eli came true.
Joab Is Killed
28 Joab had not helped Absalom try to become king, but he had helped Adonijah. So when Joab learned that Adonijah had been killed, he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar for protection. 29 When Solomon heard about this, he sent someone to ask Joab, “Why did you run to the altar?”
Joab sent back his answer, “I was afraid of you, and I ran to the Lord for protection.”
Then Solomon shouted, “Benaiah, go kill Joab!”
30 Benaiah went to the sacred tent and yelled, “Joab, the king orders you to come out!”
“No!” Joab answered. “Kill me right here.”
Benaiah went back and told Solomon what Joab had said.
31-32 Solomon replied:
Do what Joab said. Kill him and bury him! Then my family and I won't be responsible for what he did to Abner the commander of Israel's army and to Amasa the commander of Judah's army. He killed those innocent men without my father knowing about it. Both of them were better men than Joab. Now the Lord will make him pay for those murders. 33 Joab's family will always suffer because of what he did, but the Lord will always bless David's family and his kingdom with peace.
34 Benaiah went back and killed Joab. His body was taken away and buried near his home in the desert.
35 Solomon put Benaiah in Joab's place as army commander, and he put Zadok in Abiathar's place as priest.
Shimei Is Killed
36 Solomon sent for Shimei and said, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live in it. But whatever you do, don't leave the city! 37 If you ever cross Kidron Valley and leave Jerusalem, you will be killed. And it will be your own fault.”
38 “That's fair, Your Majesty,” Shimei answered. “I'll do that.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem from then on.
39 About three years later, two of Shimei's servants ran off to King Achish in Gath. When Shimei found out where they were, 40 he saddled his donkey and went after them. He found them and brought them back to Jerusalem.
41 Someone told Solomon that Shimei had gone to Gath and was back. 42 Solomon sent for him and said:
Shimei, you promised in the name of the Lord that you would never leave Jerusalem. I warned you that you would die if you did. You agreed that this was fair, didn't you? 43 You have disobeyed me and have broken the promise you made to the Lord.
44 I know you remember all the cruel things you did to my father David. Now the Lord is going to punish you for what you did. 45 But the Lord will bless me and make my father's kingdom strong forever.
46 “Benaiah,” Solomon shouted, “kill Shimei.” So Shimei died.
Solomon was now in complete control of his kingdom.
Eendjovo daxuuninwa daDavid nefyo laye
1 Nomafiku aDavid okufya eshi a ehena popepi, ye okwa lombwela omona waye Salomo ndele ta ti: 2 “Ame ohandi ka ya nondjila younyuni aushe; kala wa pama, omulumenhwelela, 3 diinina omhango yOmwene Kalunga koye mokweenda neendjila daye nomokuwanifa eenghedimhango daye noipango yaye nomalombwelo aye nomahepaululo aye, ngaashi a shangelwa momhango yaMoses, opo u kale nelao mwaashishe to longo nokeshe apa to ende po. 4 Omwene opo a wanife ondjovo yaye, Ye a lombwela nge, nokutya: Ovana voye ovamati ngeenge tava pashukile ondjila yavo mokudiinina okweenda koshipala shange nomitima davo adishe neemwenyo davo adishe, opo nee omulumenhu ita ka pumba ou ta ka kala omutumba kolukalwapangelo laIsrael. 5 Ndele ove mwene yo u shi shii Joab yaSeruja, osho e shi ningila nge. Osho e shi ningila eendjai mbali daIsrael, Abner yaNer naAmasa yaJeter. Nhumbi ye e va dipaa nokwa tilashi ohonde yomoita mefimbo lombili nokunyatekifa nohonde yomoita omwiya waye womoshiya neenghaku dokeemhadi daye. 6 Longa hano paendunge doye, neenghwakutoka daye ino di efa di kulukile nombili moshovafi. 7 Ndelenee ovana ovamati vaBarsillai, Omugilead, u noku va fila onghenda, vo ve nokukala vomongudu oyo tai li poshililo shoye, osheshi naavo yo ve uya okukwafa nge ame eshi nda ya onhapo omumwanyoko Absalom. 8 Pwoove ope na vali Simei yaGera, Omubenjamin womuBahurim, ye okwa tuka nge nai, oixuna yongaho, efiku linya nda ya kuMahanaim. Nokwe uya okushakeneka nge puJordan, onghee nde mu anena kOmwene nda tile: ‘Ame ihandi ku dipaa neongamukonda.’ 9 Ndelenee ove ino mu efa a kale ina handukilwa, osheshi ove omulumenhu omunaendunge, ndele u shi shii osho u noku mu ningila, opo eenghwakutoka daye u di kulukilifile moshovafi pamwe nohonde.” 10 Opo nee David a ka nangala pooxe nokwa pakwa moshilando shaDavid. 11 Nomafiku oo David a pangela Israel a li omido omilongo nhee. Okwa pangela muHebron omido heyali, nomuJerusalem omido omilongo nhatu nanhatu.
Adonia, Abjatar, Joab naSimei tava handukilwa
12 Opo nee Salomo okwa ka kala omutumba kolukalwapangelo laxe David, nouhamba waye wa pamekwa nawa shili. 13 Opo nee Adonia yaHaggit e uya kuBatseba, ina yaSalomo. Ye okwe mu pula: “To uya tuu nombili?” Ndele okwa nyamukula: “Ombili!” 14 Ye ta ti vali: “Ame ndi nondjovo naave.” Ndele winya ta ti: “Popya.” 15 Nena okwa tya: “Ou shi shii nokutya, ouhamba wa li wange, nOvaisraeli aveshe va tala nge ame ndi ninge ohamba. Ndelenee ouhamba wa dja po pwaame ndele wa ninga womumwatate, osheshi osho sha dja kOmwene. 16 Paife eindilo limwe alike handi li ku indile. Ino li anyena nge.” Ndele ye okwe mu nyamukula: “Popya.” 17 Opo nee ye ta ti: “Popya nohamba Salomo, osheshi yo itai ku anyene sha, ame ndi pewe kuye Abisag, Omushunemi, omwalikadi.” 18 Ndele Batseba ta ti: “Eewa, ame ohandi ka popya nohamba noku ku popila.” 19 Batseba eshi a ya mo kohamba Salomo a ka kundafane nayo omolwaAdonia, ohamba ya fikama ye mu shakeneka ndele ye linyongamena moipafi yaye. Opo nee yo ya kala omutumba kolukalwapangelo layo, noshipundi sha etelwa ina yohamba. Nokwa kala omutumba kolulyo layo. 20 Opo nee ye ta ti: “Ondi nokaindilo kanini kwoove. Ino ka anya.” Nohamba ye mu nyamukula tai ti: “Pula hano, meme, osheshi ihandi ke shi ku anyena.” 21 Ndele ye ta ti: “Adonia omumwanyoko na pewe Abisag, Omushunemi, a ninge omwalikadi waye.” 22 Opo nee ohamba Salomo tai nyamukula ndele tai ti kuina: “Ndelenee omolwashike to indilile Adonia Abisag Omushunemi? Mu indilila yo ouhamba, osheshi ye omumwatate omukulu wange, heeno, mu indilila ye mwene, nomupristeli Abjatar naJoab yaSeruja!” 23 Nohamba Salomo ya anena kOmwene ndele tai ti: “Oshili, Kalunga na handukile nge nena nokomesho, Adonia ngeenge ita futu nomwenyo waye, osho e shi popya. 24 Ndele paife, oshili ngaashi Omwene e nomwenyo, ou a pameka nge nokwa kaleka nge kolukalwapangelo latate David, ou a dika epata lange paudaneko laye, onena eli Adonia e nokufya!” 25 Nohamba Salomo ya tuma koBenaja yaJehoiada. Ye mu nhukila, ndele ta fi.
26 Nohamba ya lombwela omupristeli Abjatar ndele tai ti: “Inda kepya loye lomuAnatot, osheshi ove we lilongela okufya. Ndelenee nena itandi ku dipaa, osheshi ove wa humbata oshikefa shOmwene Kalunga moipafi yatate David nosho wa humbata oudjuu aushe tate kwa li e nokuhumbata.” 27 Osho ngaha hano Salomo okwa taataa Abjatar, ye ina kala vali omupristeli wOmwene, opo ondjovo yOmwene i wanifwe, Ye e i popila epata laEli muSilo.
28 Joab eshi a uda eenghundana odo (osheshi Joab a ama kuAdonia, hano okwa li ina ama kuAbsalom), Joab a ya onhapo metwali lOmwene nokwa kwata eembinga doaltari. 29 Ndele va lombwela ohamba Salomo: “Joab okwa ya onhapo metwali lOmwene, ndele tala, ye e li poaltari!” Opo nee Salomo a shiivifila Benaja yaJehoiada: “Inda ko, u mu dipae!” 30 Opo nee Benaja e uya ketwali lOmwene ndele ta ti kuye: “Ohamba tai ti: ‘Dja mo.’ ” Ndelenee ye ta ti: “Ahowe, osheshi nda hala okufila apa!” Ndele Benaja okwa tuma kohamba enyamukulo ndele ta ti: “Osho ngaha Joab a popya, nosho a nyamukula nge.” 31 Opo nee ohamba ye mu lombwela: “Ninga ngaashi a popya. Mu dipaa, ndele mu paka, opo u futile po ohonde ei Joab a tilashi, ihe netimba mwaame nomepata letu. 32 Opo ohonde yaye Omwene e i alulile komutwe waye mwene, eshi a nhukila ovalumenhu vavali, ovo va li ovayuki novawa, ve mu dule. Ndele e va dipaa neongamukonda fimbo tate David ine shi shiiva: Abner yaNer, ondjai yaIsrael, naAmasa yaJeter, ondjai yaJuda. 33 Ohonde yavo nai ye komutwe waJoab nokoludalo laye fiyo alushe. Ndelenee David noludalo laye nepata laye nolukalwapangelo laye, nali mone ombili yOmwene fiyo alushe.” 34 Opo nee Benaja yaJehoiada a ya ko, e mu nhukila nokwe mu dipaa. Ndele a pakwa meumbo laye mombuwa.
35 Opo nee ohamba ya lenga Benaja yaJehoiada, a ninga ondjai yovakwaita ponhele yaJoab. Ndele omupristeli Sadok okwa tulwa kohamba ponhele yaAbjatar.
36 Ohamba ya ifana vali Simei, ndele tai ti kuye: “Litungila ongulu muJerusalem u kale mo, ndele ino dja mo nande. 37 Efiku olo to di mo ndele to tauluka okamulonga Kidron, kala u shi shii, ou nokufya shili. Ohonde yoye tai ka kala kombada yomutwe woye.” 38 Ndele Simei ta ti kohamba: “Eewa. Ngaashi omwene wange ohamba ya popya, osho omupiya woye ta ka ninga.” Ndele Simei okwa kala omafiku mahapu muJerusalem. 39 Ndelenee omido nhatu, eshi da pita, ovapika vavali vaSimei ve livaka mo, va ya kuAkis yaMaaka, ohamba yaGat. Ndele Simei a shiivifilwa nokutya ovapika vaye ve li muGat. 40 Opo nee Simei okwa fikama ndele ta mange ondongi yaye ndele ta i kuGat kuAkis a ka konge ovapika vaye; ndele okwa ya nokwa eta ovapiya vaye vomuGat. 41 Ndelenee Salomo okwa lombwelwa nokutya, Simei a dja mo muJerusalem nokwa ile kuGat, 42 opo nee ohamba ya ifana Simei ndele ta ti kuye: “Inandi ku anena kOmwene noku ku londwela nokutya: ‘Efiku tuu olo to di mo ndele keshe apa to i, kala u shi shii, u nokufya shili?’ Ndele wa lombwela nge: ‘Eewa, nda uda ko.’ 43 Omolwashike hano ino diinina eano we li anena kOmwene noshipango nde shi ku lombwela?” 44 Ohamba ya lombwela vali Simei, tai ti: “Ove mwene wa shiiva owii aushe womomutima woye, wa ningila tate David, onghee hano Omwene ta alulile komutwe woye mwene owii woye. 45 Ndele ohamba Salomo na nangekwe noupuna nolukalwapangelo laDavid nali kale la pama koshipala shOmwene fiyo alushe.” 46 Opo nee ohamba ya lombwela Benaja yaJehoiada. Ye okwa ya nokwe mu nhukila ndele ye okwa fya.
Ndele ouhamba wa pamekwa meke laSalomo.
