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.
Ndayo dze bupelo dza Dafite elaya Solomoni
1 Kwakati tjibaka tje kufa kwa Dafite tjasedzela, kadana nkololo uwe Solomoni kandwa kati, 2 “Imi ndabe pejo ngofa. Usime ube ne tjilopa, uzwilakidze kuti u nlume. 3 Kakale ulondolodze tjaunodwiwa ndi Yahwe Ndzimu uwo. Uyende mu zila dzabo, ulondolodze milayo yabo ne ndayo dzabo ne zwilakidzo zwabo, sekwa yakakwagwa mu nlayo wa Mushe. Kuti ndizo ubhudilile muna zose zwaunothama ne kumwe ne kumwe kwaunotendebukilako. 4 Kuti Yahwe bashingikadze dama labo, labakandigadza bgwe beti, ‘Ha bana babo bezwitjengeta mu zila dzabo, beyenda nge lebeswa mbeli kwangu nge mimoyo yabo yose nenge meya yabo yose, akutowoshayika mu ludzi gugo nlume unowogala pa tjigalo tje bushe tja Iziraela.’
5 “Pezhugwi kwa ikoko, ukumbule tjandakathamiwa ndi Joabu nkololo wa Zeruya, sekwa akabulaya balauli be babhayani bali babili, Abineri nkololo wa Neri na Amasa nkololo wa Jetheri mu nsi we kunyalala ebgwilizila lopa lakabe latebugwa mu ngwa. Ebuya ebhoma malopa e bathu basina nlandu mu mwandabula wakabe uli mu thunji dzidze, ne mu shangu dzaakabe akaambala. 6 Utole thambo kuyendidzana ne butjenjedu gugo, koga usitongoletja nsholo uwe ntjena ukayenda ku bugalo gwe bafi nge mbakiso. 7 Koga uthamile bakololo ba Bharizilai we N'giliyadi buthu, babe bamwe be baunowoja nabo pa tafuli, ngoti bakandithamila buthu pandakabe nditizha nkulu uwo Abusalomu.
8 “Ngono ziba kuti una Shimeyi nkololo wa Gera we N'bhenjamini unodwa ku Bhahurimu, wakati zhuba landakabe ndiyenda ku Mahanayimi kandilonga bhiso kwakabangalala. Koga kukati paakandishanganidza ku gwizi gwe Jorodani, atuna na Yahwe, andwa ati, ‘Andingakubulaye nge thumo.’ 9 Ngono ngwenu, usitongo ntola se usina nlandu, ngoti iwe u nlume wakatjenjela, unowoziba tjaunganthama, unowon'delusila ku bugalo gwe bafi, ngono malopa awe anowoshakwa mu nsholo uwe.” 10 Dafite wakafa katobela botate babe, ngono kabiganyiwa mu Nzi nkulu wa Dafite.
11 Dafite wakabusa Iziraela makole ali makumi manna (40); wakabusa egala mu Heburoni makole ali kutendeka (7), kabusa egala mu Jerusalema makole ali makumi matatu ana ali matatu (33). 12 Ndizo Solomoni kagala tate babe thaka ye bushe, ngono mbuso uwe ukadzikama kwazo.
Lufu gwa Adonija
13 Adonija nkololo wa Hagiti kayenda kuna Bhatisheba mme ba Solomoni. Ngono bakambhuzwa beti, “Apa wazha nge mbakiso kene?” Kadabila eti, “Tjose nge mbakiso.” 14 Adonija kabe eti, “Ndina tjimwe tjandinokumbila leba namwi.” Bhatisheba kadabila eti, “Utjilebe.” 15 Kabe eti, “Moziba kuti bushe gwakabe guli gwangu ne kuti Iziraela yose yakabe yakalingilila nge buzhalo kuti kowobusa imi. Nenguba kwakajalo, gwakapituka gukabe gwe nnung'una wangu, gwabe gugwe ngobe wakagupiwa ndi Yahwe. 16 Ngono ngwenu, ndina tjithu tjing'ompela tjandinokumbila mu muli, musilambe.” Bhatisheba kan'dabila eti, “Utjilebe.”
17 Adonija kabe eti, “Ndomukumbila kuti mundikumbilile Mambo Solomoni, ndoziba kuti aangamulambe kuti andipe Abishagi we Nshunami ndinlobole.”
18 Bhatisheba kabe eti, “Kwakalulwama, ndowonokulebelekela kuna mambo.”
19 Ipapo Bhatisheba kayenda kuna Mambo Solomoni kunolebelekela Adonija. Mambo kamilika kashanganidza mmeyabe, kabathigamila. Ebe egala pa tjigalo tjitje tje bushe, kakumbila kuti bazhisigwe tjimwe tjigalo kuti bagale. Ngono mmeyabe bakagala bali ku luboko gugwe gwe luji. 20 Bakadwa mambo bakati, “Ndina kumbilo yandazha ndiyo pamuli, ngono ndokumbila kuti musindilambile.” Ngono mambo kashandula mmeyabe eti, “Mungakumbila zwenyu mme, andingamulambile.” 21 Mme yabe bakabe beti, “Ndokumbila kuti Abishagi we Nshunami apiwe nkulu uwo Adonija anlobole.”
22 Mambo Solomoni kashandula mmeyabe eti, “Ini mukumbilila Adonija kuti alobole Abishagi we Nshunami? Ngono tjidwani mankumbilila ne bushe, ngoti nkulu wangu, kakale Abiathari we mpirisiti na Joabu nkololo wa Zeruya bamile naye!” 23 Ndizo Mambo Solomoni katuna na Yahwe kati, “Bukulu Ndzimu undibulaye, ha Adonija asingake kalipila matama iyawa nge butjilo gugwe! 24 Ngwenu Yahwe se betjila, ibo bakandigadzikanya pa tjigalo tje bushe gwa tate bangu Dafite, bakandithamila nsha, sekwa bakandigadza bgwe, nasi Adonija wakafanila bulawa.”
25 Ndizo Mambo Solomoni katuma Bhenaya, Bhenaya kamilika kanobulaya Adonija.
Kulobgwa shamu kwa Abiathari ne lufu gwa Joabu
26 Mambo Solomoni kadwa Abiathari kati, “Yenda ku Anatoti ku shango ya kanyi kwenyu, ngoti wakafanilofa. Koga mu tjibaka itjetji anditowokubulaya, ngobe wakabe utjengeta Bhokisi le Tjidumano tja Yahwe mbeli kwa tate bangu Dafite. Kakale wakabe ushanganyila manikano dzose na tate bangu.” 27 Ipapo Solomoni katata Abiathari mu kushingila Yahwe ali mpirisiti, kuli kushingikadza dama la Yahwe labakaleba ku Shilo ngekwe nsha wa Eli.
28 Kukati thawu dziswika kuna Joabu se akabe alimile na Adonija, nenguba akabe asimile na Abusalomu, Joabu katizhila ku nshasha wa Yahwe, kanobhata nyanga dze tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo. 29 Mambo Solomoni kabudziwa kuti Joabu watizhila mu nshasha wa Yahwe, ngono upa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo. Solomoni katuma Bhenaya nkololo wa Jehoyada kandwa kati, “Yenda unombulaya.” 30 Ipapo Bhenaya kangina mu nshasha wa Yahwe, ngono kandwa kati mambo bakati bhudila kuzhe.
Ngono kadabila eti, “Andidi, ndowofila ipapa.”
Bhenaya kabgwiliza shandulo ya Joabu kuna mambo kakale kandwa kati, “Etji nditjo tjandadwiwa ndi Joabu endishandula.”
31 Mambo kadwa Bhenaya kati, “Thama sekwa aleba, umbulaye umbiganye, uduse nlandu mu ndili ne mu bana ba tate bangu we kutebula lopa le bathu basina nlandu kwakathamwa ndi Joabu. 32 Yahwe banowobgwilizila malopa awe mu nsholo uwe, ngobe wakabulaya balume babili, Abineri nkololo wa Neri, ali nlauli we babhayani be Iziraela na Amasa nkololo wa Jetheri, ali nlauli we babhayani be Juda bakabe bakalulwama kumpinda, kuzhe kwe zibo ya tate bangu Dafite. 33 Ndizo malopa abo anowoshakwa mu nsholo wa Joabu ne zwizekugwana zwizwe nge kusingapele; koga kuna Dafite ne zwizekugwana zwizwe ne mu tjigalo tjitje tje bushe kowobe ne kunyalala kunodwa kuna Yahwe nge kusingapele.”
34 Ndizo Bhenaya nkololo wa Jehoyada kayenda kanobulaya Joabu ngono kabiganyiwa kanyi kwabo mu tjilambanyika. 35 Mambo Solomoni katola Bhenaya kambiga nlauli we babhayani mu bumo gwa Joabu, Zadoki we mpirisiti kambiga mu bumo gwa Abiathari.
Lufu gwa Shimeyi
36 Mambo katuma bathu kunodwa Shimeyi beti, “Uzwibakile ng'umba mu nzi nkulu Jerusalema ube ugala mukati, ngono kushaye kwaunowobhudilako. 37 Ngoti aungadzina ukati nge limwe zhuba ukabhuda ukanotjuluka Nkuku we Kidironi, uzibe kuti unowofa, ngono malopa awo anowoshakwa mu nsholo uwo.”
38 Ngono Shimeyi kadabila mambo eti, “Tjamaleba tjakalulwama, nlanda wenyu unowothama sekwa maleba tetshi wangu mambo.” Ndizo Shimeyi kagala kwe mazhuba malefu mu Jerusalema.
39 Koga kukashingikala kuti shule kwe makole matatu balanda ba Shimeyi babili bakatizhila kuna Akhishi nkololo wa Maakha mambo we Gati. Ngono Shimeyi kabudziwa kuti baku Gati. 40 Shimeyi kamilika kabelesa donki iye, kayenda kuna Akhishi ku Gati kunoshaka balanda babe, kabawana kabuya nabo. 41 Ngono kukati Solomoni ebudziwa kuti Shimeyi wakabhuda mu Jerusalema kayenda ku Gati kabuya kashanduka, 42 mambo katumila thumi kunombhuzwa beti, “Apa andizokutunisa na Yahwe, abuya akukowomesedza ati, ‘Uzibe kuti mu zhuba launowobhuda ukayenda kumwe, unowofa?’ Ngono ukandishandula uti, ‘Tjamaleba tjakalulwama, ndatjihwa kene?’ 43 Ini ngwenu usalondolodza tjawakatuna kuna Yahwe ne nlayo wandakakupa kene?” 44 Mambo kapapha kadwa Shimeyi kati, “Unoziba mu moyo uwo mbipo yose yawakathamila tate bangu Dafite, ndizo Yahwe banowobgwilizila mbipo iyo. 45 Koga Mambo Solomoni unowokombolegwa ne tjigalo tje bushe tja Dafite tjowogala tjakabakiligwa mbeli kwa Yahwe nge kusingapele.”
46 Ndizo mambo kadwa Bhenaya nkololo wa Jehoyada kuti anombulaya, ngono kayenda kanobulaya Shimeyi.
Bushe gukangina mu maboko a Solomoni nge buzhalo.