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.
Kalapäṛi Ädu Dawidi ro Solomo ri
1 Ondro tu Dawidi ro odra ro te ti oko, nda päṛikalate ŋgwa ndaro Solomo ri ekye: 2 “Tu maro odra ro esate. Nya'do mbara ro ago nyaka'da andivo miro manoago ro, 3 ago miye tase OPI Lu miro kabe atana miri oyene 'do. Miro ota cini ndaro ndi tase nda kabe atana miri be, oso egyibe Ota Musa roya ronye, tana nya'do robe ŋgaamba be ŋgase cini nyabe oyena si ago vose nyabe aba kigyesi yasi. 4 Ondro ka'do miro nda te OPI o'bana tase nda katabe märi 'do osana ndi mina ya, se ekye: ‘Zelevoi miro mirina Yisaraele 'da madaro ondro ka'doyite taoti be, 'diriro mamile ya cini ànyaro si ago lindri cini ànyaro si owo.’ ”
5 “Caoko mini tase Yoaba ŋgwa Zeruya ro koyebe märi kpa ṛote, tana nda tufu otaozo'bai ritu kyila'bai Yisaraele ro rote, Abinera ŋgwa Nera ro ndi Amasa ŋgwa Jetera robe, se nda tufu ànya te tu taliatokpe rosi votaro logoro, tase ànya kutufuyi 'di be tu kyila rosi ana ta. Nda tufu taenjiako'bai kai te. Tase nda koyebe ana mäŋgyi läŋgyina ndi taezana robe te. 6 Ka'do inye miye ta tavouni miro voro, ago mi'ba nda kodra koni odra etero ri.
7 “Oko miye ta ndi yauni si katidri Baruzilai Gilada'ba ro ri, ago mindrevo ànyaro; tana ànya a'doyite yauni be märi tuse mabe umu ni ädrupi miro Abisolomo ri ana si.
8 “Ago Simei ŋgwa Gera ro, Benjamina'ba ro ni 'ba'desi Bahurima ro yasi kpa orivoya. Nda 'da ma te koziro tuse mabe oyi Mahanaima ya ana si. Oko nda ikyite mare Golo Yaradene ya, ago ma'ba tao'ba 'desi te ndäri OPI si makye: ‘Märi mi ufune i'do.’ 9 Ka'do inye beṛo ko miri nda e'bene teinye ezaako. Mi orivoya mano tavouni be yi ago minina tase oyene ndäri ndi; beṛo nda ufune.”
Odra Dawidi ro
10 'Dooko Dawidi drate, ago ase nda te 'Bakici Dawidi ro ya. 11 Nda rite 'bädri'ba ro Yisaraele dri ndroa na 'butesu. Ndroa 'butesu 'do yasi nda mirivote Eberona ya ndroa na njidrieri ago nda mirivote Yerusalema ya ndroa na 'butenätu fonätu. 12 Ago Solomo rite 'bädri'ba ro vo Dawidi täpi ndaro roya; ago mbara miri 'bädri'ba ndaro ro a'dote ŋgyiri.
Odra Adonija ro
13 'Dooko Adonija se endre na ni Agita ana oyite Beteseba endre Solomo ro re. Ago Beteseba ejitate ekye: “Nyikyi ono gi liyaro ya?”
Nda zatadrite ekye: “Mikyi gi liyaro.” 14 'Dooko nda atate ekye: “Ma ta aza be ejine ni misi.”
Beteseba zatadrite ekye: “Nyeji ri.”
15 Nda zatadrite ekye: “Mini ndi aba ni märi a'done 'bädri'ba ro, ago Yisaraele cini 'ba mi mädri, caoko ta a'dote to ago ädrupi maro a'dote ni 'bädri'ba ro, tana OPI le tana ni. 16 Ago yauono ma ta alodi be ejine ni misi; rägu miga ta maro ko zo.”
Beteseba atate ndäri ekye: “Nyeji ri.”
17 Ago nda atate ekye: “Molo'baru miri nyeji 'Bädri'ba Solomo, mäni ndi nda ogana ta miro ko zo, Abisaga Sunema'ba ozone toko ro märi.”
18 Beteseba zatadrite ekye: “Kado yi; mapena ta miro ndi 'bädri'ba ri.”
19 Ndi Beteseba oyite 'Bädri'ba Solomo re, atane ndäri vo Adonija roya. Ago 'bädri'ba ŋgate kuru mede oyene endre ndaro ri, ago ändite anyari. 'Dooko nda rite giti ndaro dri, ago ezi orivo aza te endre 'bädri'ba ro ri; ago anya rite drigwo ndaro yasi. 20 'Dooko Beteseba atate ekye: “Ma orivoya ta alodi giṛiŋwa be ejine ni misi; molo'baru miri miga ta maro ko zo.”
Ago 'bädri'ba atate anyari ekye: “Nyeji ta miro, endre maro; magana ta miro ko zo.”
21 Anya atate ekye: “Mi'ba Abisaga Sunema'ba a'done toko ro Adonija ädrupi miro ri.”
22 Ago 'Bädri'ba Solomo zatadri endre ndaro rote ekye: “Tana e'di nyeji ma gwo Abisaga Sunema'ba ozone toko ro Adonija ri niya? Nyeji ma kpa miri 'bädri'ba ro ozone ndäri. Tana nda orivoya ädrupi 'desi maro, ago kohani Abiatara ndi Yoaba ŋgwa Zeruya robe orivoya nda resi.” 23 'Dooko 'Bädri'ba Solomo 'ba tao'ba 'desi te ävuru OPI rosi ekye: “Lu kufu ma ondro ka'do mäfu Adonija kote ta taeji ono rota owo! 24 OPI 'ba ma te orine giti täpi maro Dawidi ro dri, nda äti tao'ba ndaro te ago ozo miri 'bädri'ba rote märi ndi zelevoi maro be. Mäṛu ma OPI lidriidriro si beṛo Adonija ri odrane kitu ono si.”
25 Ndi 'Bädri'ba Solomo zo Benaya ŋgwa Yoyada rote; ago nda oyite ago fu Adonija te.
Ona Abiatara ro ndi Odra Yoaba robe
26 'Bädri'ba Solomo atate Kohani Abiatara ri ekye: “Nyoyi kovole 'bädri miro ya Anatota ya. Tana aba si mi ufune. Oko yauono male ko mi ufune, tana mi ni drî'ba Sänduku Tao'baro OPI ro ro tuse mi be täpi maro Dawidi be ana si, tana nyiŋgyi rriti cini te nda be.” 27 Ndi Solomo ana Abiatara teni ruinduvoya kohani ro OPI ri, tana tase OPI katabe Silo ya ta kohani Eli ndi zelevoi ndaro be rota ana ka'do robe ŋgye.
28 Ondro Yoaba keri tase ka'dobe ana tana te oko, tana nda 'dete Adonija vosi, ago 'de kote Abisolomo vosi; nda mute Mutuguṛi a'do lototi OPI ro ya ago baṛi cukui vo tori oloro rote. 29 Ago ondro iti tana te 'Bädri'ba Solomo ri ekye Yoaba mute Mutuguṛi a'do lototi OPI ro ya, ago orivoya vo tori oloro lomvo oko, 'bädri'ba Solomo zo Benaya ŋgwa Yoyada rote ukyine Yoaba ufune. 30 Ago Benaya oyite Mutuguṛi a'do lototi OPI ro ya ago atate Yoaba ri ekye: “'Bädri'ba atani ekye: Nyefo tesi.”
Oko Yoaba zatadrite ekye: “Hwa, madrana ndi noŋwa.”
'Dooko Benaya gote kovole 'bädri'ba re ago iti tase Yoaba katabe ana te ndäri.
31 Ago 'bädri'ba atate ekye: “Miye ndi oso se nda katabe ronye. Mifu nda ago mise nda. 'Dooko ca ma ca 'diaza zelevoi täpi maro Dawidi ro i'do taenji be ta lidri se Yoaba kutufube teinye taenjiako kwoi rota. 32 OPI ezana Yoaba 'da ta 'dise nda kutufube kai rota. Yoaba tufu lidri ritu taenjiako te se kadopara ni nda modo ri: se nda yete teinye täpi maro Dawidi ri tana uniako. Abinera ŋgwa Nera ro, otaozo'ba kyila'bai Yisaraele ro ro, ago Amasa ŋgwa Jetera ro, otaozo'ba kyila'bai Yuda ro ro. 33 Taezaro ànya tufu ro a'dona ndi Yoaba dri ago zelevoi ndaro dri äduako. Oko OPI ozona talia Tokpe ndi ŋgaamba be 'da Dawidi ri ndi zelevoi ndaro se kabe ori giti ndaro dri 'do be äduako.”
34 'Dooko Benaya ŋgwa Yoyada ro oyite Mutuguṛi a'do lototi OPI roya, ago fu Yoaba te; ago ase nda te 'ba modo ndaro roya vo däyiro ya. 35 Ono vosi 'bädri'ba 'ba Benaya ŋgwa Yoyada rote otaozo'ba ro kyila'bai dri vo Yoaba roya, ago nda 'ba kohani Zadoka te vo Abiatara roya.
Odra Simei ro
36 'Dooko 'bädri'ba zo lazo te Simei vo, ago atate ndäri ekye: “Mimo zo andivo miro ri noŋwa Yerusalema ya. Miri kigye ago nye'be 'bakici ko. 37 Ondro mifote ago nyoyite le Goloŋwa Kidrona kundusi endaro midrana ndi; ago okozina ndi modo miro ayani.”
38 Ago Simei zatadrite ekye: “Kado yi, mayena tase mi Opi 'bädri'ba maro nyatabe ono ndi.” Ago nda rite Yerusalema ya tuna amba.
39 Oko ndroa nätu vosi oko iyeäṛi ritu Simei ro muyite Akisa ŋgwa Maaka ro, 'bädri'ba Gata ro re. Ago ondro Simei keri tana te ekye ànya orivoya Gata ya oko, 40 nda ŋgate ago tute doŋgyi ndaro dri, ago oyite Gata ya Akisa re, iyeäṛii ndaro uṛine. Ago nda usu ànya te ago logo ànya te ni Gata yasi. 41 Ondro Solomo keri te ekye Simei oyite ni Yerusalema yasi Gata ya ago ego te oko, 42 nda zo lazo te Simei vo, ago atate ndäri ekye: “Ma'ba mi te tao'ba o'bane ävuru OPI rosi ko Yerusalema e'bene. Ago mozo miomba te miri makye: ‘Ondro ka'do miyete inye endaro midrana ndi.’ Inye'do mile tadrina ṛo ko ago nyata ṛo ko mikye; yirona ta maro ndi ya? 43 Tana e'di mifu tao'ba miro Opi ri gwo ago miro ota maro kote niya?” 44 Solomo ata kpate Simei ri ekye: “Mini tase cini koziro miyebe Dawidi täpi maro ri ono te. Ka'do inye OPI ezana mi ndi tana ro. 45 Oko nda äṛuna ma ndi ago nda o'bana miri 'Bädri'ba Dawidi ro ro ndi orine ŋgyiri äduako.”
46 'Dooko 'bädri'ba ozo otate Benaya ŋgwa Yoyada ro ri se oyite ago fu Simei te. Ta'dota Solomo miri vo cini te.