David's Last Instructions to Solomon
1 When David was about to die, he called his son Solomon and gave him his last instructions: 2 “My time to die has come. Be confident and determined, 3 and do what the Lord your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses, so that wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do. 4 If you obey him, the Lord will keep the promise he made when he told me that my descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul.
5 “There is something else. You remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace as revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men, and now I bear the responsibility for what he did, and I suffer the consequences. 6 You know what to do; you must not let him die a natural death.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead and take care of them, because they were kind to me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.
8 “There is also Shimei son of Gera, from the town of Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me bitterly the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he met me at the Jordan River, I gave him my solemn promise in the name of the Lord that I would not have him killed. 9 But you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do, and you must see to it that he is put to death.”
The Death of David
10 David died and was buried in David's City. 11 He had been king of Israel for forty years, ruling seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon succeeded his father David as king, and his royal power was firmly established.
The Death of Adonijah
13 Then Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, went to Bathsheba, who was Solomon's mother. “Is this a friendly visit?” she asked.
“It is,” he answered, 14 and then he added, “I have something to ask of you.”
“What is it?” she asked.
15 He answered, “You know that I should have become king and that everyone in Israel expected it. But it happened differently, and my brother became king because it was the Lord's will. 16 And now I have one request to make; please do not refuse me.”
“What is it?” Bathsheba asked.
17 He answered, “Please ask King Solomon—I know he won't refuse you—to let me have Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, as my wife.”
18 “Very well,” she answered. “I will speak to the king for you.”
19 So Bathsheba went to the king to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king stood up to greet his mother and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had another one brought in on which she sat at his right. 20 She said, “I have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me.”
“What is it, mother?” he asked. “I will not refuse you.”
21 She answered, “Let your brother Adonijah have Abishag as his wife.”
22 “Why do you ask me to give Abishag to him?” the king asked. “You might as well ask me to give him the throne too. After all, he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab are on his side!” 23 Then Solomon made a solemn promise in the Lord's name, “May God strike me dead if I don't make Adonijah pay with his life for asking this! 24 The Lord has firmly established me on the throne of my father David; he has kept his promise and given the kingdom to me and my descendants. I swear by the living Lord that Adonijah will die this very day!”
25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah, who went out and killed Adonijah.
Abiathar's Banishment and Joab's Death
26 Then King Solomon said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to your country home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not have you put to death now, for you were in charge of the Lord's Covenant Box while you were with my father David, and you shared in all his troubles.” 27 Then Solomon dismissed Abiathar from serving as a priest of the Lord, and so made come true what the Lord had said in Shiloh about the priest Eli and his descendants.
28 Joab heard what had happened. (He had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom.) So he fled to the Tent of the Lord's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar. 29 When the news reached King Solomon that Joab had fled to the Tent and was by the altar, Solomon sent a messenger to Joab to ask him why he had fled to the altar. Joab answered that he had fled to the Lord because he was afraid of Solomon. So King Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab. 30 He went to the Tent of the Lord's presence and said to Joab, “The king orders you to come out.”
“No,” Joab answered. “I will die here.”
Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.
31 “Do what Joab says,” Solomon answered. “Kill him and bury him. Then neither I nor any other of David's descendants will any longer be held responsible for what Joab did when he killed innocent men. 32 The Lord will punish Joab for those murders, which he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah. 33 The punishment for their murders will fall on Joab and on his descendants forever. But the Lord will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne.”
34 So Benaiah went to the Tent of the Lord's presence and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the open country. 35 The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.
The Death of Shimei
36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in it and don't leave the city. 37 If you ever leave and go beyond Kidron Brook, you will certainly die—and you yourself will be to blame.”
38 “Very well, Your Majesty,” Shimei answered. “I will do what you say.” So he lived in Jerusalem a long time.
39 Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath, 40 he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath, to find his slaves. He found them and brought them back home. 41 When Solomon heard what Shimei had done, 42 he sent for him and said, “I made you promise in the Lord's name not to leave Jerusalem. And I warned you that if you ever did, you would certainly die. Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me? 43 Why, then, have you broken your promise and disobeyed my command? 44 You know very well all the wrong that you did to my father David. The Lord will punish you for it. 45 But he will bless me, and he will make David's kingdom secure forever.”
46 Then the king gave orders to Benaiah, who went out and killed Shimei. Solomon was now in complete control.
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.
