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.
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.